How Do We Actually Show Support as a Leader?

Ever wondered if your well-intentioned presence as a leader might be undermining your team's autonomy? In this episode, Gino Marckx and Wayne Hetherington tackle one of the most common leadership challenges: how to show support without accidentally taking away your team's decision-making power.

🎯 KEY TOPICS:
• Why leaders showing up to team meetings can backfire
• The power differential effect and how it silences teams
• How authority figures unintentionally anchor decisions
• The hidden cost of "just observing"
• Practical strategies for supporting without hovering

💡 MAIN TAKEAWAYS:
✅ Stick to feedback-focused events (like sprint reviews)
✅ Ask permission before attending planning sessions
✅ Limit your presence - less is often more
✅ Ask "How can I help?" instead of jumping in with answers
✅ Use "What would you do?" to empower team decisions
✅ Know when to give feedback and when to stay silent

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Introduction
0:43 The Challenge: Well-Intentioned Leader Presence
2:17 Why Leaders Want to Be Involved
4:03 What Actually Happens When Leaders Show Up
6:24 The Power Differential Effect
7:26 How Autonomy Breaks Down
9:02 Real Example: The Story Point Incident
10:22 Having Difficult Conversations with Leaders
11:53 Solutions: How to Support Without Overbearing
13:14 Ask Permission, Don't Just Show Up
14:50 The Power of "How Can I Help?"
15:28 Resist the Urge to Fill the Silence
16:12 Quick Summary

🎙️ ABOUT THIS PODCAST:
Good Intentions and Outcomes explores workplace challenges where good intentions lead to unintended consequences. Hosts Gino Marckx and Wayne Hetherington discuss real situations, analyze what goes wrong, and provide practical alternatives on the spot.

#Leadership #TeamAutonomy #AgileLeadership #ScrumMaster #Management #WorkplaceCulture #TeamDynamics #LeadershipDevelopment #GoodIntentions #PodcastEpisode

Contact us at feedback@goodintentionsbadoutcomes.org