Kit BarberOwner, Kit Coaching · Business Coach and Mentor

If your team relies on you for every problem

22 Dec 2025 · 1 min

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In this short leadership monologue, the speaker explains how managers unintentionally foster dependence by immediately solving problems presented by their team. By always providing the answer, leaders condition employees to bring issues to them rather than think through solutions themselves. The speaker proposes a simple practice: never accept a problem without first asking the team member to present two possible options. If the employee cannot generate options, the manager should ask them to think it over and return with two alternatives, then help choose the best one. This approach maintains support while developing the team's problem‑solving capability, shifting them from dependents to independent thinkers.

Chapters

Imagine there was a way to get your team to stop bringing you problems all of the time. Most leaders accidentally train this behaviour. Someone says, "We've got an issue," and you jump in with the answer. It feels helpful, it feels efficient, but you're teaching them, "Bring it to me and I'll think for you." Many of my clients say, "My team can't think for themselves," but usually they can. They've just been conditioned not to. Never accept a problem without options. Next time someone brings you an issue, simply say, "Okay, what are your two options?" If they say, "I don't know," reply, "Have a think and come back with two. I'll help you choose." You're being supportive, but you're also building thinkers. You're not building dependents.