When to Step In and When to Stay Out | A Discussion with Tom Goodlet
Tom Goodlet | Pastor, best-selling author, and founder of Two Penny Consulting. He spent over a decade in pastoral ministry, then ran a publishing company helping authors get their book from their heart into their hands. He later founded Two Penny Consulting to do something similar for leaders who'd rather not learn everything the hard way.
Juntos Online Learning Community
August 18, 2026
Webinar Recap: "Knowing When to Step In" with Tom Goodlet
Transcript
Tom Goodlet presents a leadership training session for the Juntos community regarding when to step in and when to stay out of business relationships and the decision-making processes.
Leadership Pitfalls
Tom explains that leaders often hinder progress by stepping in too early or incorrectly. He identifies four common reactive behaviors:
Power Plays: Using verbal authority or consequences to force results.
Prejudging: Critiquing or reprimanding an employee or client while they are experiencing a problem.
Problem Solving: Jumping directly into solutions, which can prevent others from the ability to solve problems themselves or address the actual underlying issue.
Positive Spinning: Offering empty praise or reassurance that makes the person feel unheard.
Effective Intervention
Tom suggests a following sequence for effective leadership:
Listen First: Use the "W A I T" (**Why Am I Talking?**) acrostic to help leaders be slow to speak and quick to listen to understand the root cause.
Consultative Approach: If intervention is necessary, ask permission before sharing expertise. This involves being an expert, leaving responsibility with the person, and avoiding nagging.
Freeing Up the Runners: Focus energy on high-performing employees (referred to as "runners") in the following ways:
Carving new paths/authority rather than just tasks.
Coaching them through challenges.
Cleaning up messes made during rapid progress.
Levels of Delegation
Tom introduces a hierarchy of levels of delegation to prevent employees from "crashing and burning":
Repeat It: The employee performs the task exactly as instructed without deviation.
Research It: The employee investigates options or better ways to perform a task and reports back.
Research and Recommend: The employee conducts research and then provides a specific recommendation for the following action.
Make the Call: Thes'e employees are unique in their ability to make a decision and then simply report back after the action has been made taken.
How many more levels of delegation exist beyond level four?
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