Are You A Multiplier Or A Diminisher?

Genius or genius maker? Bono describes best the difference between a Diminisher and a Multiplier: "It has been said that after meeting with the great British Prime Minister William Ewart Gladston, you left feeling he was the smartest person in the world; but after meeting with his rival Benjamin Disraeli, you left thinking your were the smartest person."

The former is a genius (a diminisher). The latter is a genius maker (a multiplier). Which person would you rather be? How can you tell what type of person you are? Are you a multiplier or a diminisher?

Diminishers:

• Create stress.
• Rarely ask people to solve problems they don't know how to do.
• Delegate small decisions.
• Are empire builders.
• Tyrants.
• Know-it-alls.
• Decision Makers.
• Micro-managers.

Multipliers:

• Believe people are smart and will figure it out.
• Invite people into the space of difficulty and challenge.
• Create owners, not hirelings.
• Are talent managers.
• Liberators.
• Challengers.
• Debate Makers.
• Investors.

Some of us are accidental diminishers – have a diminishing effect in spite of good intentions

Types of accidental diminishers:

• The idea guy.
• Always-on.
• Rescuer.
• Pacesetter.
• Rapid Responder.
• Optimist.

From Liz Wiseman's book, Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter.