Knowledge Leaders as Multipliers

In order for knowledge management (KM) to thrive, an organization requires a combination of conditions that form the runway from which a KM initiative can take off. There is general agreement that technology, human resources, organizational culture, and leadership are among the key enablers of successful KM. The intentions and actions of knowledge leaders in particular can make a profound difference to how KM is institutionalized in an organization. The relationship between leadership and KM has been studied extensively, especially established leadership styles such as transformational and transactional leadership. In this chapter, the authors explore the influence of knowledge leadership on KM through the lens of Liz Wiseman's leadership paradigm, Multipliers. The authors propose that effective knowledge leadership reflects the traits of the multiplier: leaders who draw on certain skills and approaches to effectively “multiply” the intelligence of an organization.