RESEARCH_FILE
Liz Wiseman
Wiseman Group
Known for:Author of 'Multipliers' research on leadership patterns that either amplify or diminish team intelligence, identifying how well-intentioned high-output leaders unconsciously overtax their strongest contributors through the 'Always On' Diminisher pattern
SEE THE PRACTICE
Turn a thought this research explains into one clear move.
THE THOUGHT
“I'm punished for being reliable”
YOUR RECORDED RESPONSE
“I built my reputation by choosing what matters to me, not by accepting everything that arrives.”
ONE PRIVATE MOVE
Draft a private email declining something that arrived unsigned, without sending it. Notice what story you tell yourself about what happens if you send it. That story is the trap.
Key findings
- 2010
Wiseman's research across 150 leaders and 4,000 employees found that 'Diminisher' leaders — often high-capability, hard-driving individuals — unconsciously concentrate workload on their most capable reports through patterns like 'Always On' (never letting stars rest between demanding assignments) and 'Rapid Responder' (solving problems before others develop capacity), systematically depleting high performers while peers operate at lower intensity. Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter ↗