Don't fix problems without asking

Imagine you’re an expert bike repairer walking in the park when you see someone pushing a broken bike along the path in front of you. They leave the bike on the ground and run off into a nearby bike shop. Believing yourself to be a good Samaritan, you start to work on the bike in the hopes of fixing it before they return. You fix the bike relatively easily but when the owner returns they are incredibly upset with you. But why? What about this innocent result could make the owner so furious?

If it's not broken, don't fix it

We often have a generous urge to help others with their problems. This is especially true when it’s an area of our expertise, something we feel like we should have complete control over. It feels wrong not to help when you can. And you should, but you should after talking with the owner of the problem. Of course you might help them solve that problem, but you’re assuming that problem even needs solving. You’re assuming that by solving that problem, you’re also solving their complete set of problems, even when you don’t know the bigger picture. 

The last piece is in my pocket

But what can be so wrong about helping without asking? Although ironically it may seem the opposite, it’s actually an incredibly selfish thing to do. It's easy social credit for us and it makes us feel good to help others. But be careful, because it can be tempting to rush head-first into generous outcomes that are not needed. 

Is there light at the end of that tunnel?

Perhaps there was no problem at all, and the bike owner was simply using that broken bike as resistance for hard walks. Perhaps he wanted his son to help with it as it would be a nice bonding moment. Before action, we must always understand our problem completely, and acquire the authority from all relevant stakeholders to proceed.