Imprints: The Making of a Great Leader

In this follow-up to Multipliers, leadership expert and New York Times bestselling author Liz Wiseman reveals how formative experiences build four essential capacities of great leadership—and how understanding these defining moments can help organizations develop stronger leaders and prepare a new generation to lead in a rapidly changing world.

Why do some people become great leaders while others struggle? In Multipliers, bestselling author Liz Wiseman revealed what the best leaders do differently. Now, in Imprints, she explores how they became the leaders they are.

Drawing on in-depth, original research into the formative experiences of corporate leaders, Wiseman identifies four defining factors that shape professional identity and build the capacities to do some of leadership’s hardest work. Imprints shows how experiences with adversity, leadership, trust, and accountability develop a leader's ability to remain steady amid uncertainty, share power, grow talent, and have the hard conversations that inspire top performance.

Through compelling stories and practical insights, Wiseman reveals how pivotal moments and influential people leave lasting imprints on our leadership instincts—and how we can reshape those imprints when they hold us back.

Imprints offers a fresh approach to leadership development, helping us recognize what our experiences have prepared us to do, identify what they haven't, and create formative experiences for others. Because great leaders aren't simply born or mysteriously made. They're shaped through everyday moments—moments we can influence to build better leaders.

Discover What Makes Great Leaders: Understand how four defining factors—adversity, leadership, trust, and accountability—shape the ability to remain steady, share power, grow talent, and have hard conversations.

Grounded in Original Research: Explore the formative experiences that distinguish the strongest leaders from their peers, drawing on in-depth interviews, surveys, and assessments from leaders and more than 300 of their colleagues.

Master the Make-or-Break Moments: Learn how to turn pivotal experiences—from lucky breaks and strong starts to setbacks and second chances—into opportunities that build confidence, capability, and leadership potential.

Reshape Your Leadership Future: Recognize the imprints that strengthen or limit your leadership, reframe unhelpful assumptions, and create formative experiences for others—because it's never too late to become a great leader.