What if your greatest leadership strengths are unintentionally limiting the people around you? Drawing from Liz Wiseman’s Multipliers, this article explores the concept of “accidental diminishers”—well-intentioned leaders whose behaviors can restrict growth, ownership, and confidence in others. From the Idea Fountain to the Perfectionist, learn how self-awareness can help transform good intentions into leadership practices that empower people to contribute and thrive.

Engagement begins with psychological safety. The brain is constantly scanning the environment to determine whether it is safe or threatening. When people feel safe, they collaborate, manage ambiguity, and remain engaged. When safety is reduced, thinking narrows and momentum slows. Michael Bungay Stanier’s TERA framework—tribe, expectation, rank, and autonomy—explains how leaders shape safety. By increasing the TERA quotient, leaders can build trust and sustain engagement.