The Accidental Diminisher: A Summary of Multipliers
The accidental diminisher is the leader who means well and still gets less out of people. So, do you multiply or diminish?
Until recently, I would not have felt confident answering that question, but I assure you it is a good one. The authors of the book Multipliers claim that if you are a Diminisher, you get about half of what you could from people, and if you are a Multiplier, you get almost double the results.
If you are unsure what that means or how to answer, I recommend the book Multipliers by Liz Wiseman, starting with the Accidental Diminisher quiz. This summary covers the difference between Diminishers and Multipliers, the five disciplines, the nine accidental diminisher habits, and a free self-check to see which ones show up in your leadership.
Multipliers vs Diminishers: The Core Difference
Let me ask another way. How often do you find yourself thinking, "They will never figure this out without me"? What about, "People are smart and will figure this out"?
Those two statements are the key difference the book describes. A Diminisher believes people will not figure things out without them. A Multiplier believes people are smart and will figure things out.
What Is a Diminisher?
A Diminisher believes that intelligent people are very rare and that they are the only ones who can come up with great ideas and get things done. They need to use people and their experience more. They focus heavily on control, believing that without it the job will not be done right, which is very similar to a micromanager.
The result is that other people’s intelligence and capacity go unused, so employees are not as productive as they could be, and results suffer.
What Is a Multiplier?
A Multiplier, on the other hand, is a genius maker. People around them become smarter and more fulfilled, and they progress further in their careers. More gets done with Multipliers because they use the intelligence of others and maximize their potential. Sounds great, does it not?
The 5 Disciplines of Multipliers
All things equal, a Diminisher and a Multiplier likely have the same job. A Multiplier stands out in these five areas.
| Discipline | What a Multiplier does | What a Diminisher does instead |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Attracts and optimizes talent | People want to work for them because they are known for helping people go far | Leads areas where careers have little or no growth |
| 2. Creates intensity that draws out the best thinking | Removes fear so people feel safe doing their best work | Creates an environment where people feel judged |
| 3. Extends challenges | Plants opportunities and sets challenges that stretch people, and people believe they can do it | Acts as the know-it-all and uses challenges to show off their own knowledge |
| 4. Debates decisions | Makes decisions after real debate and draws out the other side so every perspective is considered | Sells their own view and keeps decisions behind closed doors |
| 5. Instills ownership and accountability | Sets high expectations and lets people hold each other accountable | Keeps ownership, gets into the fine details, and manages every step |
What Is an Accidental Diminisher?
The book explains that it is rarely cut and dried where you fall. Most people have elements of both, and it works more like a scale. Often, people are Accidental Diminishers.
I took the quiz mentioned at the beginning of this article and scored 31. How does that stack up to you? If you are an Accidental Diminisher, it means you think you are being a great manager without realizing that what you are doing is not producing the results you expect. The book has a great chart that shows the behaviors of an Accidental Diminisher and how to overcome them.
9 Behaviors of an Accidental Diminisher
Each of these habits starts with a good intention. The problem is the effect on the people around you.
| Behavior | What they hope | What actually happens |
|---|---|---|
| Idea fountain | Constant ideas will motivate people | People get overwhelmed, clam up, or chase each new idea |
| Always on | Sharing your view keeps everyone informed | It leaves no space for others, and eventually people tune you out |
| Rescuer | Jumping in protects people’s success and reputation | People depend on you too much and stop solving problems |
| Pacesetter | A high standard for quality or speed will pull others along | Others cannot keep up, so they give up |
| Rapid responder | Quick moves keep the organization going | Too many changes at once slow everything down |
| Optimist | Extreme optimism builds belief that the team can do it | People are unsure you understand how hard it is or that it may fail |
| Protector | Keeping people away from politics keeps them safe | People never learn to stand on their own feet |
| Strategist | Painting a picture of the future inspires the team | People question the boss instead of working out how to get there |
| Perfectionist | Corrections will make the work the best it can be | Constant criticism makes people stop trying |
If you identify with these behaviors, you can change them with the five disciplines of Multipliers. The self-check below helps you pick where to start.
How to Stop Being an Accidental Diminisher
To become a Multiplier, try making these adjustments in your daily activity.
| Instead of | Try |
|---|---|
| Giving the answer | Asking hard questions that make people think |
| Taking over | Assisting people so they finish the work themselves |
| Taking full responsibility | Giving the team 51% of the vote |
| Expecting perfect | Making room for mistakes to happen |
| Hiring only for raw smarts | Looking for the natural genius in each person on the team |
| Delegating tasks | Delegating stretch challenges, starting small and building to larger ones |
For more on handing work off well, see our guide on how to delegate work without feeling threatened.
Diminisher vs Multiplier Example
Here is the issue: a newly designed product is needed, and the team has told you they are not confident they can deliver it.
| Diminisher response | Multiplier response | |
|---|---|---|
| Behavior | Jump in and take over, and suddenly everything is back on track. | Ask hard questions to get them thinking, contribute at a minimal level to remove roadblocks, and suddenly they are back on track. |
| Reward | I feel great and needed because I solved the problem. | The team feels confident because they solved the problem. |
| Consequence | The team did not learn anything and will not be able to solve problems or take ownership in the future. | The team grows, trusts you to help, and feels psychologically safe. |
Notice that both leaders get the project back on track. The difference shows up next time: the Diminisher will be needed again, while the Multiplier’s team handles it themselves.
Free Accidental Diminisher Self-Check
The self-check below is a quick reflection, not the official quiz from the book. For each of the nine habits, mark how often it shows up in your leadership: never, sometimes, or often. The self-check converts your answers into a diminisher score and ranks the three habits to work on first, with a Multiplier alternative for each.
In the example, the idea fountain, rescuer, and perfectionist habits show up often, for a score of 56%. Those three become the focus, starting with sharing one idea at a time and asking the team to build on it.
For an honest read, ask a trusted direct report to fill it out about you too, and compare. Copy your results to Excel, where the score stays a live formula, or print them for your development plan.
Accidental Diminisher Self-Check
Be honest about how often each well-meaning habit shows up in your leadership. The self-check scores your accidental diminisher tendencies, ranks the ones to work on first, and gives a Multiplier alternative for each. It is a reflection tool, not the official quiz from the book. Nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere.
Start with these
From Accidental Diminisher to Multiplier
I highly recommend not only reading the book but also taking the quiz to understand where you fall on the scale between Diminisher and Multiplier. From there, you can use that insight to make small changes in behavior toward being a Multiplier.
I am still working through the exercises myself, but I expect significant changes in the team, and I look forward to getting not only a lot more from people but seeing them flourish around me.
Updoot is business management software for $5 per user per month with clear roles, goals, and two-way reviews that make it easier to hand ownership to your team.
Written by Nicole Hullihen
Sources
Accidental Diminisher Quiz (The Wiseman Group)
The Multiplier Effect: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter (Alto)
Multipliers and Diminishers (The Growth Faculty)
Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter, by Liz Wiseman
Opens in Google Drive. View and download for free.
Frequently Asked Questions About Multipliers and Accidental Diminishers
What is an accidental diminisher?
A leader with good intentions whose habits, like rescuing people, always sharing ideas, or insisting on perfection, end up shutting down the thinking and ownership of their team.
What is the difference between a Multiplier and a Diminisher?
A Diminisher believes people will not figure things out without them. A Multiplier believes people are smart and will figure it out, and builds an environment that draws out their best thinking.
What are the five disciplines of Multipliers?
Attracting and optimizing talent, creating intensity that draws out the best thinking, extending challenges, debating decisions, and instilling ownership and accountability.
Who wrote Multipliers?
Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter was written by Liz Wiseman.
What are examples of accidental diminisher behaviors?
The idea fountain, always on, rescuer, pacesetter, rapid responder, optimist, protector, strategist, and perfectionist.
How do I become more of a Multiplier?
Ask questions instead of giving answers, help instead of taking over, give the team 51% of the vote, make room for mistakes, and delegate stretch challenges.
Is there a quiz to find out if I am a diminisher?
Yes. The Wiseman Group offers an Accidental Diminisher quiz, and the self-check on this page gives a quick reflection on the nine habits.