Blog Jan 19: Stop Being a Backseat Driver: How to Stress-Test New Team Members the Right Way

“Leadership isn’t hovering. It’s creating space for people to succeed.” 💛

Let’s be honest.

Training new team members can feel uncomfortable.
You want them to succeed.
You want things done right.
And it’s tempting to jump in every time you see a mistake forming.

But according to Natasha Saavedra of Medical Professional Dojo, one of the fastest ways to undermine a new hire’s confidence and performance, is by becoming a backseat driver.

In this post, we break down Natasha’s practical framework for stress-testing new team members without hovering, so they can integrate what they’ve learned, build confidence, and perform under real conditions.

The Problem With Backseat Leadership

Most leaders don’t micromanage because they want control.
They do it because they care.

But constant interruption creates unintended consequences:

• Confidence drops

• Learning fragments

• Performance stalls

• Stress increases for everyone

Natasha explains that competency and confidence are built in different phases. Once a team member has passed their competency checklist, the next step is not more instruction, it’s integration.

Step One: Move From Script to Stage

Training often happens in pieces:

• Scripts

• Checklists

• Drills

But real work doesn’t happen in pieces.

Natasha uses a powerful analogy:
Learning the role is like rehearsing lines.
Doing the role is like stepping onto a Broadway stage.

Stress-testing means letting the team member:

• Answer the phones

• Check patients in and out

• Handle real interactions

• Put everything together at once

This stage should feel uncomfortable. That discomfort is where real learning happens.

Step Two: Stay Behind the Curtain

Here’s the hardest part for leaders: don’t interrupt.

Natasha advises leaders to act like directors backstage:

• You can see what’s happening

• You can hear what’s happening

• But you don’t shout instructions mid-performance

The only time to step in?

• When the team member faces a question they truly cannot answer

• When revenue, safety, or critical outcomes are at risk

Everything else gets noted—not corrected in the moment.

Step Three: Coach at the Right Time (With Permission)

Great leaders don’t correct publicly or impulsively.

They wait for:

• A break

• A private moment

• A calm environment

And they ask permission:

“Are you ready for some feedback?”
“Can I give you some coaching?”

This simple step changes everything.
It prepares the team member mentally to receive guidance instead of defending themselves.

Step Four: Let Them Reflect First

Before offering your notes, Natasha encourages leaders to ask:

• What went really well?

• What felt challenging?

• Where did you feel unsure?

Most of the time, team members already know where they struggled.

When feedback starts with self-reflection, it feels supportive, not corrective.

Step Five: Drill, Don’t Disrupt

If gaps are identified:

• Role-play

• Practice

• Drill specific scenarios

But never interrupt learning while it’s happening.

As Natasha says, you don’t coach athletes mid-play.
You coach them during the break, when they can actually absorb it.

The Leadership Mindset Shift

Stress-testing is not about setting people up to fail.
It’s about giving them the space to succeed.

When leaders:
✔ Stop hovering
✔ Coach intentionally
✔ Respect timing
✔ Ask permission
✔ Protect confidence

Teams become stronger, faster, and more independent.

Reflection for Leaders

Ask yourself:

• Do I interrupt learning instead of observing it?

• Am I correcting in the moment—or coaching at the right time?

• Do my team members feel trusted during growth phases?

Leadership isn’t about being everywhere.
It’s about knowing when not to step in.

Prefer to Watch Instead?

Hear Natasha explain this framework in her own words:
👉 Watch the full video

Ready to Build Leaders, Not Dependents?

Most clinics work hard.
But without strong leadership systems, effort turns into exhaustion.

Over 3 focused days, we help clinics:

• Build confident teams

• Remove owner dependency

• Create structure that supports growth

📅 January 28–30
⏰ 1:00–2:30 PM EST
📍 Live on Google Meet
👉 Join the Practice Transformation Challenge

Final Thought

Strong leaders don’t steal the spotlight.
They build the stage—and let their team shine.

Where might stepping back actually move your team forward?

WHO WE ARE

Medical Professional Dojo helps healthcare leaders break through limitations by strengthening culture, communication, and accountability.

📧 Email: [email protected]
📞 Call or Text: (833) 678-0800
💬 Book a Discovery Call: https://link.medprodojo.com/widget/booking/00SZ78V6CJfntwsghkMk