# What Leaders Get Wrong About Helping Their Struggling People

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/transform-your-workplace-388839/what-leaders-get-wrong-about-helping-their-struggling-people
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/transform-your-workplace-388839/what-leaders-get-wrong-about-helping-their-struggling-people.md
Podcast: [Transform Your Workplace](https://stenobird.com/podcast/transform-your-workplace-388839)
Published: 2026-03-20T20:17:00+00:00
Episode link: https://xeniumhr.libsyn.com/what-leaders-get-wrong-about-helping-their-struggling-people
Audio file: https://pdcn.co/e/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/xeniumhr/TYW-582_-_Why_the_best_managers_resist_the_urge_to_fix_everything__with_Lacey_Partipilo.mp3?dest-id=100930
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/transform-your-workplace-388839/episodes/what-leaders-get-wrong-about-helping-their-struggling-people
Duration seconds: 1489

## Resource

What should you do when someone on your team is struggling? Most leaders default to jumping in and solving the problem. But that instinct, while well-meaning, can do more harm than good. In this episode, Brandon Laws sits down with Lacey Partipilo, VP of Client Success at Xenium HR, to talk about how leaders can uncover what's really getting in the way of their people's success. They dig into the difference between being stuck and struggling, why leaders need to take their own "backpack" off before coaching conversations, and the ego trap that comes with being the one who always saves the day. If you manage people, this one will change how you show up in your next one-on-one. Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction to the episode and Lacey Partipilo 1:48 Why regular time with your people is non-negotiable 3:18 The difference between stuck and struggling 4:00 Taking the backpack off: going in with an open mind 5:07 The three conversations: solve it, fix it for me, or let me vent 6:30 Setting ground rules for better one-on-ones 7:30 Helping people solve their own problems by asking better questions 8:48 Patterns that signal someone is struggling 11:48 Building a culture of trust so people can be honest about their gaps 13:50 How self-sabotage and outdated beliefs keep people stuck 16:22 Why accountability starts on day one, not when things fall apart 18:24 The ego trap: why solving feels good but holds your team back 19:48 Angela Perkins' advice on finding fulfillment through your team's success 21:48 Practical changes leaders can make starting now 23:18 Why every leader needs a peer group A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source f…

## Actions

- request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/transform-your-workplace-388839/episodes/what-leaders-get-wrong-about-helping-their-struggling-people/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.
- read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/transform-your-workplace-388839/what-leaders-get-wrong-about-helping-their-struggling-people.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.

A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed.

## Transcript

Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.