Let's Read: Multipliers, ch. 7, the accidental diminisher, and ch. 8, how to deal with them

Big whoops: are you a well-meaning but diminishing SOB?

Wiseman lists a few archetypal diminishers: Idea Fountain, Always On, Rescuer, Pace-setter, Rapid Responder, Optimist, Protector, Strategist, Perfectionist. Her suggestion (and it's not a new one) is to ask those who work most closely with us to give us insight on what diminishing-tendencies might be. One might have several streaks, and identifying those would help us avoid them and shift towards multiplication. Often, the switch just requires a change in mindset: e.g. stepping back is not showing indifference, but rather, confidence.

Now that you've determined that you're not a diminisher, what do you do if you work with one?

There's some research on how toxic workers can bring down entire teams, and getting rid of them might be a solution, if you're in a position to do that. Other options: ignore and work around diminishers, or quit altogether.

Another solution, according to Wiseman, is to "multiply your way out." What follows isn't simply a call to use compassion and empathy to try to convert diminishers to multipliers; she lists specific tactics to defend against the "Dark Arts of Diminishing." One piece of advice was to check if you're diminishing upwards (!).

Next are tactics to multiply "up": empower your diminishing boss-person to use their strengths in your projects, and direct their energy positively in your projects. According to Wiseman's interviewees, diminishers mostly want to be heard and be recognised for their genius; if you give them opportunities to shine then you'll get your work done too. The key here is to put away any resentment you might have for having to be an adult to a dysfunctional "parent."

Level 3 is to actively and intentionally convert others to be multipliers. The one crucial point here is to recognise and correct any diminishing habits in ourselves, especially the hidden ones that we fall back on in stressful situations.