Coaching Real Leaders How Do I Help My Boss Without Doing Their Job For Them?
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Apr 27, 2026 A leader struggles with blurred boundaries: wanting to help her manager but wondering if she is being asked to do their job. They explore how style and expectations create tension. Practical moves are discussed for discovering what kind of help the manager actually wants. The conversation centers on testing assumptions, proposing solutions, and deciding whether to take on the work.
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Senior Hire Excited To Rebuild Finds Her Ideas Ignored
- Kate joined a new company excited to rebuild and operationalize a function after similar success at her previous employer.
- She expected to co-build structure with her manager but found proposals ignored and little follow-through, which sparked doubt and frustration.
Ownership Versus Support Explains The Tension
- Muriel highlights a core mismatch: Kate thinks she's there to own work while her boss expects Kate to support and help her do the job.
- That difference between ownership and support explains the boss's desire to be involved in every detail and Kate's demotivation.
Ask What Help Actually Means Before You Act
- Do test the hypothesis that your manager wants you to 'just do it' by asking what kind of help she actually needs.
- Focus on clarifying the how (ways of working) not just the what (goals) before choosing how to act.