The moment someone you love says “I’m struggling,” do you feel the urge to jump in with the perfect solution? We do too and it’s exactly why this conversation matters. Marc and Teresa unpack how “fixing mode” can accidentally shut people down, create dependence, and even lower psychological safety, even when our intent is pure love and protection.
We walk through two real parenting stories that changed how we lead at home. First, a school situation where repeated advice goes nowhere until Marc asks a single question that lets his son generate his own plan and actually follow through. Then, a morning routine struggle where punishments and rewards fail, but curiosity uncovers a simple experiment the child owns. The big lesson: buy-in beats tactics. When the idea is theirs, the energy, confidence, and consistency go way up and when it stops working, they learn how to adapt instead of waiting for us to rescue them.
We also zoom out to modern leadership and relationships: this is not just a parenting tool. The same coaching mindset helps with spouses, teams, and clients, especially in high-emotion topics like health, habits, and change. If you want stronger communication, more independence, and less pressure in your relationships, start practicing better questions instead of better answers.
Subscribe for more leadership coaching tools, share this with someone who’s stuck in fixing mode, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s one question you can ask today instead of giving advice?
If you’ve been listening to us talk about self-leadership and you’re ready to take the next step, enrollment is now open for the Self-Leadership Lab!
We begin November 2, and we’re limiting this group to just 15 participants.
You can learn more about the program and secure your spot at modernleadership.us/lab.
And if you’re newer to the podcast, or you’re curious about the Lab but aren’t quite sure whether it’s right for you, we also have a replay of our free self-leadership workshop available.
It’s an opportunity to experience how we teach and work through real-life challenges before making a decision.
Just reach out to us and ask for the workshop replay. We’ll be happy to share it!
Either way, we’d love to help you take that next step toward becoming a more effective leader.
