5 Risks of Dangerous Assist

Sincerity can mislead. Good intentions may cause lasting injury. It’s not form to do one other particular person’s job.

You suppose you’re being beneficiant. Supportive. Useful. Dangerous assist weakens as an alternative of strengthening.

The purpose of assistance is equipping.

Dangerous assist:

  • Does what others ought to do themselves.
  • Breeds dependence and blocks progress.
  • Results in exhausted managers.

Dangerous assist removes duty. Folks develop by carrying weight—not by being carried.

5 Risks of Dangerous Assist:

  1. You care extra concerning the final result than they do.
  2. You supply solutions as an alternative of asking questions.
  3. You’re pissed off they aren’t altering.
  4. They count on assist however don’t develop from it.
  5. Nothing adjustments—for you or for them.

“…the real self is not something one finds as much as it is something one makes…”—Sydney J. Harris

Leadership quote: Am I helping or hindering? Image of a concerned dachshund.

Wholesome assist empowers:

  • Help effort. Don’t exchange it.
  • Provide steerage, not rescue.
  • Encourage duty, not aid.

Assist folks do exhausting issues.

7 Inquiries to Ask Earlier than Serving to:

  1. How exhausting is that this on a scale of 1–10? Gauge their perceived issue.
  2. What have you ever already tried? Reveal their possession.
  3. What final result are you aiming for? Clarifies their targets.
  4. What function would you like me to play? Distinguishes between teaching, supporting, rescuing, or doing.
  5. If I weren’t out there, what would you do? Surfaces hidden resourcefulness.
  6. What might be true of you if you happen to full this with out assist? Give attention to improvement.
  7. How will my assist transfer you ahead—or simply make this simpler? Pressure long-term considering.

Assist performed nicely propels folks ahead.

How can tender-hearted leaders keep away from the entice of dangerous assist?

Expensive Dan: Am I Serving to or Hindering