The boss would not only provide resources, guidance, feedback, and advice, but other forms of help that subordinates might ask for. The trap for the boss, of course, is that if the subordinate comes to the boss and says, “Can you help me?” all of the problems inherent to giving help apply. The boss needs to be able, at that moment, to be a humble inquirer and process consultant, not an impulsive expert or doctor. What makes all of this more complicated is that the helping is occurring in an organizational context that has cultural norms above and beyond the societal ones about equity and face
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