I recently read the book, Multiplier By: Dave Ferguson. In the first section he began by wisely stating, you multiply who you are. So before you begin developing others, take steps to becoming a healthy leader.
He used a cycling story to illustrate.
For years, British cycling was stuck in mediocrity. Not one Olympic gold medal in nearly a century. No Tour de France wins. Nothing remarkable. Then everything changed.
When performance director Dave Brailsford took over, he introduced a simple idea: the aggregation of marginal gains. Improve everything by just 1% including nutrition, training, equipment, and sleep, and over time those small gains compound into extraordinary results.
And they did. Olympic dominance. Tour de France victories. A complete transformation!
Here’s the lesson: Small things done consistently create massive impact.
Ferguson uses this concept and powerfully applies it to leadership development. It is not just about performance, it is about becoming a healthy leader who multiplies health in others.
Why do healthy leaders matter? If you want to reproduce healthy leaders, you have to start by being one. Leadership is not just about output, it is about overflow. You will reproduce WHO you are long before you reproduce what you say. This applies to your outlook, your responses to others, your drive, your approach, etc.
Dave suggests a tool he calls the RPMS framework to help leaders gauge their overall health. What are RPMS? More commonly known in a car, it stands for revolutions per minute, but for the sake of leadership health, let’s redefine. RPMS is a simple tool to help you measure and grow in four key areas of life:
Relational Are you growing in favor with people
Physical Are you stewarding your body well
Mental Are you growing in wisdom and clarity
Spiritual Are you growing in your relationship with God
This reflects the model we see in Luke 2:52 where Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man.
RPMS helps you gauge the same intentionally.The reality is, when we are not actively pursing growth in these four areas we are prone to drifting. Drifting is often slow. It does not show up loudly. It creeps in through small compromises, subtle neglect, and unchecked fatigue. Before you know it, you are off course.
That is why a daily check in matters. It is not complicated. It keeps you aligned!
How to Use the RPMS Dashboard
Step 1 Rate Yourself
Write down R,P,M,S
To help rate, ask yourself:
Relational Are my closest relationships (family and friendships) life giving? Who needs more of my attention?
Physical Am I eating well, moving my body, and getting enough rest?
Mental What is filling my mind? Am I dwelling on what is true and good?
Spiritual Am I staying connected to God? Am I listening, not just talking?
Next to each one rate yourself 1 – 10
1-3 Low, needs immediate action
4-7 Moderate, good can make some improvements
8-10 Excelling, hitting the mark!
Step 2 Make 1% Adjustments
Do not overhaul your life. Take one small step in each area. Here are a few examples:
Relational Send a text or have a meaningful conversation
Physical Take a walk, drink water, or go to bed earlier
Mental Read something life giving or journal for five minutes
Spiritual Pray, sit in silence, listen for God’s nudging, or reflect on Scripture
REMEMBER: Being a healthy leader is important because you multiple WHO YOU ARE! So as we prepare to launch our Leadership Pipeline, make this part of your daily practice.
Small steps done daily change everything. Here are few helpful tips to staying consistent in pursing health and avoiding the drift.
1 Check your RPMS daily.
It takes less than five minutes but recalibrates your direction.
2 Look for patterns.
This is not just about scores, it is about trends. Pay attention to what is shaping your life.
3 Do it in community.
Growth accelerates in trusted relationships. Share this with a mentor or team,
4.Transformation is built through daily faithfulness.
Consider checking your gauges along with your daily quiet time.
The Bigger Picture
The RPMS dashboard is not just a tool, it is a lifeline. It helps you stay grounded, grow intentionally, and lead from a healthy place.
Final Thought. You do not need a massive breakthrough. You need a faithful rhythm. Adjust 1% each day. Over time those small decisions compound. One day you will look back and realize you have become a different leader. Stronger. Healthier. More aligned.
Zechariah 4:10 Reminds us: “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…”
Choose the 1% shift.
Discussion Questions:
- Do you agree that we multiply who we are in others? Share an example where you have seen this to be evident.
- Which of your RPM’s are lowest? Can you identify the specific area you have begun to drift and what is one practical step you can take to adjust 1% today.
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