When expertise empowers and when expecting ready-made answers disempowers.
Not all requests look the same
“Could you share a list of the interview questions I might face?”
“I'd like your full playbook for our next team huddle—can you send it over?”
Whether you’re stepping into a new role or steering a team through change, it’s natural to look for tried-and-true guidance. In my days as a technical expert, I drafted interview guides and frameworks, to support non-technical and technical panels. That insight can be invaluable.
And yet, when the ask becomes only for the answers, a subtle shift happens:
We begin to believe certainty lives outside ourselves.
The hidden cost of "just tell me what to do"
Relying solely on "expert" fixes quietly trades in:
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Self-trust, because we miss the chance to practice listening inward.
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Agency, as we teach our nervous systems to wait for instruction.
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Adaptability, since no script survives real-world surprises.
A skilled coach doesn’t hand over the solution; they hold space for you to discover it. When clients expect ready-made answers, they short-circuit the very transformation they seek.
How this plays out in teams
I’ve heard requests like:
“Can you send me the step-by-step guide for performance conversations.”
“Let’s run another pulse survey in four weeks to prove impact.”
There’s nothing wrong with wanting clarity. But if every decision is outsourced to a tool or template, teams lose the practice of inventing their own solutions and the confidence that comes with it.
An invitation to co-create
What if, instead of asking for the “right” answer, you began with:
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“What’s your own sense of what could work here?”
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“Where do you feel most hesitant and why?”
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“How might you adapt this idea to fit your style?”
And when you’re on the receiving end, lean into expertise as a springboard; testing, reflecting, and weaving it with your lived experience.
The ripple of grounded action
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With you, Linda |
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