5 Dangers of Harmful Help

Sincerity can mislead. Good intentions can cause lasting damage. It’s not kind to do another person’s job.

You think you’re being generous. Supportive. Helpful. Harmful help weakens instead of strengthens.

The goal of help is equipping.

Harmful help shackles people. Image of a person in handcuffs.

Harmful help:

  • Does what others should do themselves.
  • Breeds dependence and blocks growth.
  • Leads to exhausted managers.

Harmful help removes responsibility. People grow by carrying weight—not by being carried.

5 Dangers of Harmful Help:

  1. You care more about the outcome than they do.
  2. You offer answers instead of asking questions.
  3. You’re frustrated they aren’t changing.
  4. They expect help but don’t grow from it.
  5. Nothing changes—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.

Healthy help empowers:

  • Support effort. Don’t replace it.
  • Offer guidance, not rescue.
  • Encourage responsibility, not relief.

Help people do hard things.

7 Questions to Ask Before Helping:

  1. How hard is this on a scale of 1–10? Gauge their perceived difficulty.
  2. What have you already tried? Reveal their ownership.
  3. What outcome are you aiming for? Clarify their goals.
  4. What role do you want me to play? Distinguish between coaching, supporting, rescuing, or doing.
  5. If I weren’t available, what would you do? Surface hidden resourcefulness.
  6. What will be true of you if you complete this without help? Focus on development.
  7. How will my help move you forward—or just make this easier? Force long-term thinking.

Help done well propels people forward.

How can tender-hearted leaders avoid the trap of harmful help?

Dear Dan: Am I Helping or Hindering