Are you a fixer?

“I just want to help people – but I feel like I’m drowning.”

Last week, I worked with a school leader who described herself as a fixer.

She was the go-to person for everyone – from staffroom issues like running out of milk, to classroom dilemmas and wider school challenges.

She took pride in being helpful.

She liked being someone people relied on.

But she was also exhausted.

Her to-do list was growing. Her own priorities...

Left untouched.

During coaching, she had a lightbulb moment.

She realised that while fixing brought short-term relief, it wasn’t sustainable – for her or for her team. And that by always stepping in, she may unintentionally be limiting others’ opportunities to grow.

She identified that a shift was needed – from fixing to developing.

That meant slowing down in the short term to coach others to solve problems, so that in the longer term, they became more confident, capable, and independent.

She saw that empowering others didn’t mean she was less helpful – it meant she was leading more effectively.

Coaching gave her the space to reflect, reframe, and reset her approach.

👉 Do you ever find yourself stuck in ‘fixer’ mode? What helps you step back and empower others instead?