Leadership That Heals, Not Hurts: What Every Changemaker Needs to Know.

"Do no harm." That’s a solid starting point for doctors; and it should be a non-negotiable for leaders who work with people too.

But here’s the catch:
What if your best intentions are doing harm?
What if your helping hand is accidentally keeping people stuck?

When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert flips the script on how we address poverty, lead change, and serve others. It’s part theology, part psychology, and part leadership wake-up call. And it’s brilliant.

Let’s break down some of the biggest takeaways—and how you, yes you, as a leader, can do better, deeper, and more dignity-honoring work.

🚫 First, Let’s Kill the Savior Complex

You’re not the hero. That one stings, right?

This book reminds us that poverty isn’t just about lacking things. It’s about broken relationships with self, with others, with God, and with creation.

So, when we show up like superheroes, swooping in with money, solutions, and savior energy… we can reinforce the very brokenness we’re trying to heal. Instead:

👉 Approach with humility.
👉 Listen more than you talk.
👉 Walk with, not ahead of those you’re trying to support.

Think of the quote: “Never do for others what they can do for themselves.”

Relief, Rehabilitation, Development: Which Lane Are You In?

This is the holy trinity of helpfulness and knowing the difference can change everything.

Situation	Your Role	What it Looks Like
🆘 Relief	Emergency responder	Give food. Provide shelter. Offer immediate aid.
🛠️ Rehabilitation	Coach	Support recovery. Help rebuild. Encourage action.
🚀 Development	Partner	Empower long-term growth. Equip. Collaborate.

🚩 Most mistakes happen when we hand out relief when people need development. That’s when our help…hurts.

From Needs to Assets: The Leadership Flip You Must Make...

Here’s a wild idea: The people you serve aren’t empty cups.They have skills, stories, talents, and dreams.

Instead of asking, “What do you need?”, ask:

1. “What’s working already?”
2. “What do you love doing?”
3. “What can you teach me?”

This is called Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), and it changes the game from doing for to doing with.

Mindset Matters: Start With Who’s Ready

Change isn’t a magic wand; it’s a willingness. And people can be at different points on the readiness scale. As a leader, part of your wisdom is in discerning where to invest your limited resources.

Start with those who are receptive, who are curious, who say, “Yes, I’m ready.” You’re not ignoring the rest; you’re building momentum.

Plant a Tiny Win

Development isn’t a revolution. It’s gardening.

🌱 Find a goal that’s small.
🌱 Achievable.
🌱 Led by the person, not by you.

Then celebrate it. Early wins = confidence fuel. Confidence = long-term transformation.

Keep Learning as You Go

Don’t wait to have all the facts. You’ll never move.

Try something together. Reflect together.
Adjust. Grow. Try again.

It’s messy, it’s sacred, and it’s called co-creation. Welcome to leadership that looks like community.

Leadership Lessons That Heal

If you remember nothing else, remember this:

✅ Start with dignity, not desperation.
✅ See people as co-creators, not charity cases.
✅ Match your help to the moment: Relief, Rehabilitation, or Development.
✅ Focus on relationships, not just results.

Great leadership isn’t loud. It’s humble. It’s not about fixing others. It’s about walking with them until they believe they can run.

🎯 Your Leadership Challenge This Week
Ask yourself: Am I leading with humility, or control? Am I empowering people or doing the work for them?

Then find one person or community you support and flip the script. Ask them what’s working. What they’re proud of. What they want to try; and commit to walking with them, not above them.

Want to go deeper? Run a leadership team meeting on these three pillars:

1. What does relief look like in our organization?
2. How do we (or do not) empower rehabilitation?
3. Where can we shift from doing for to doing with?

The world doesn’t need more heroes. It needs humble, hopeful builders of broken relationships. Let’s be those leaders.