Episode 29: How Leaders Create Learned Helplessness (and How to Break the Cycle) | Meg Rentschler

Leaders are doing everything they can to support their teams, but many don’t realize they might also be training their people to rely on them for every decision. That pattern has a name: learned helplessness. And once you see it, you can’t unsee it. In this conversation with executive coach and host of The STaR Coach Show, Meg Rentschler, we talk about why so many well-intentioned leaders end up exhausted, overloaded, and stuck with teams that won’t move without their approval. Meg shares how her background as a psychotherapist opened her eyes to how unhealthy work dynamics form, and why leaders often contribute to the very problems they’re trying to solve. We also unpack what happens when you start using a coaching mindset to bring out the ideas, confidence, and creativity in the people around you without giving up your standards or losing control of important decisions. In this episode, we get into: The elephant metaphor that explains why teams stop thinking for themselves Why leaders leave 1:1s with to-do lists that were never theirs to begin with The questions that help team members think instead of wait The mindblowing changes that happen in a team when people finally feel seen and trusted If you’ve ever felt like you can’t go on vacation without everything falling apart, or you’re tired of being the person who has to solve every problem, this episode will give you a calmer, more sustainable way to lead. Links and Resources:📕Get Meg’s free guide on Coaching vs. Managing: https://starcoaches.mykajabi.com/optin-coaching-vs-managing Connect with Meg Rentschler:www.starcoachshow.comwww.afocusonresults.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@starcoachshowLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megrentschlerFB: https://www.facebook.com/STaRCoachShowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/megrentschler/ Connect with Kristiana:Website: https://www.worthytolead.co/LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kristianacoronaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/worthytolead/