Use the time to remove blockers
Ask what’s in their way and then actually clear it — this is your highest-leverage move.
Key takeaways
- What it is: Ask what’s in their way and then actually clear it — this is your highest-leverage move.
- Why it works: A manager often controls resources, access, and decisions the report can’t reach. Systematically hunting for and removing blockers converts your positional power into the team’s throughput, and reliably acting on what you hear is what makes the report keep surfacing problems early rather than hiding them.
- Evidence: Backed by observational / correlational evidence.
- Avoid: Hearing the blocker, nodding, and never acting on it — after a couple of dropped commitments, the report stops telling you what’s wrong.
Why it works
A manager often controls resources, access, and decisions the report can’t reach. Systematically hunting for and removing blockers converts your positional power into the team’s throughput, and reliably acting on what you hear is what makes the report keep surfacing problems early rather than hiding them.
How to do it
- 1Ask directly: "What’s slowing you down that I could help with?"
- 2Take an action item when a blocker is yours to clear, and close the loop next time.
- 3Track recurring blockers — they often point to a systemic fix, not a one-off.
What the evidence says
ObservationalSupportive, obstacle-removing leadership is associated with engagement and performance; the broader job-demands-resources literature links removing hindrance demands to better outcomes and lower burnout.
Honest caveat: Correlational; unblocking helps only when you reliably follow through — unkept commitments erode trust faster than never offering.
- — Bakker & Demerouti, job demands-resources model (hindrance demands and burnout)
Common mistake
Hearing the blocker, nodding, and never acting on it — after a couple of dropped commitments, the report stops telling you what’s wrong.
IX Coach captures the blockers you commit to clearing and resurfaces them next session, so unblocking actually closes the loop.
Practice this with IX Coach →