By Kristin Bain, Tamar A. Kreps, Nathan L. Meikle, and Elizabeth R. Tenney
Summary
Amplification, or a public endorsement of someone’s idea with proper attribution of credit, can help ensure that team members’ ideas don’t get overlooked or attributed to the wrong person. In three studies involving more than 2,760 participants in the U.S., the authors found that amplification can accomplish three important things: Make someone else’s contribution seem better, make the amplifier (the person doing the amplifying) look good as well, and help underrepresented voices be heard. In other words, amplification benefits everyone involved. This is especially beneficial for women, people of color, or members of other underrepresented groups, who may be especially likely to be dismissed or spoken over.