Tired of Solving Everyone’s Problems for Them?
- cynthia700
- Aug 7
- 2 min read
Imagine this...
You're a team leader walking into a meeting after a big deadline was missed. Tensions are high. People are frustrated. And all eyes turn to you, waiting for your reaction.
What’s your first instinct? Like many leaders, you might jump in to solve the problem. Figure out what went wrong. Take control. Clean it up.
You might respond this way:
"Why didn’t this get done?"
"Didn’t you know the timeline?"
"Why didn’t anyone speak up sooner?"
"Here’s what you need to do…"
The room goes silent. People shut down. Those questions—though they might seem reasonable questions in your mind—can feel like blame.
Now ask yourself: Is that how you want your team to feel? Defensive? Unsure? Disconnected?
There’s a better way. According to HBR’s Management Tip of the Day (July 2025), “The solution isn’t being less caring; it’s being more like a coach.”
So try this instead:
“What obstacles got in the way?”
“What do you think would help us avoid this next time?”
“What do you see as the next steps?”
“How might we work differently going forward?”
The problem doesn’t magically disappear. But now it’s not yours to solve alone. Your team starts thinking. Taking responsibility. Collaborating.
Want to stop being the fix-it person?
Join us in the virtual Leader as Coach Mastery Program—kicking off this September—as we explore:
How to ask questions that unlock ideas, not defensiveness
A simple shift from problem-focused to solution-focused coaching
Live demos that show how empowering leadership really works in the moment
Learn more and register here:
Special Offer – Our lowest price yet. Offer expires on Aug 31.
Save $1,500 when you register this month of August! Don’t miss this opportunity to invest in your leadership at a significantly reduced rate.
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