Hold that thought...

Hold That Thought is a monthly reflection on the questions that seem to be quietly following me around. At the end of each month, I look back over everything I've written—journal entries, blog posts, conversations, coaching reflections, work notes and half-formed ideas—and look for the deeper questions hiding beneath them. These aren't necessarily questions I can answer. They're the ones I'm still living with. Each week, I'll share one of those questions in the hope that it sparks a little curiosity, a good conversation, or simply a moment to pause and think. If a question has been worth wrestling with for a month, perhaps it's worth holding onto for a few minutes longer

When does helping become thinking for someone else?

Why I've been thinking about this

I've been noticing how often we're rewarded for having answers. Leaders are expected to solve problems. Consultants are expected to provide expertise. AI can generate suggestions in seconds. Even with the best intentions, it's easy to step in before someone has had the chance to think for themselves (or even finish their question).

The more I pay attention, the more I wonder whether our greatest contribution isn't always the quality of our answers. Sometimes it might be our willingness to create the conditions for someone else's thinking to emerge like offering a question, holding your tongue while they think...

What do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments, or perhaps it's a conversation worth having with someone over coffee this week.