Boston Centerless - Precision Matters Magazine Fall 2018 | Page 6

ACCIDENTAL DIMINISHER
ARE Science
YOU AN Of
ACCIDENTAL
The
Great Conversation
DIMINISHER?
BY LIZ WISEMAN
GREGORY PAL hired Michael, a talented
individual with rich foreign trade experience,
to help his renewable energy company’s
efforts to expand rapidly into Brazil. But in
an effort to help Michael, Gregory would
often jump in to solve problems. Because
Michael was still new, Gregory gave him the
easy assignments and piecemeal tasks that
were not suited for someone like Michael with
highly developed skills. Then, because Michael
was the only team member working remotely,
Gregory would often end up representing him
in meetings. After a few months, Michael was
using just 20 to 25 percent of his talent on the
job.
DIMINISHERS VS. MULTIPLIERS
Michael’s case is hardly an isolated one.
In fact, it illustrates an all-too-common
workplace phenomenon, leadership poorly
exercised. Consider these two questions:
Have you ever worked for a leader who
underutilized your talent or made you question
your own intelligence? Or, have you worked
for a leader who drew on every ounce of your
brainpower and even made you smarter and
more capable?
We call the first type of leader a Diminisher
and the sec