That 4 Moment When It’s Okay for You to Ask for a Help
We understand that some people would rather walk into work completely “naked” than swallow their pride and ask for assistance. Many of us mistakenly see a plea for help as a sign of weakness, while I believe it is a sign of enormous strength in actuality. Hey, that just means you're self-aware and confident enough to realize when it's time to get some help.
However, this does not imply that asking for assistance is straightforward. No, contacting someone in your office and asking them to assist you can be pretty nerve-wracking.
So, here are four scenarios when it's okay for you to ask for help—along with a suggestion on what to say. Because the last thing you want to do is gather the guts to stutter your way through a convoluted and ambiguous request.
1. When You Have No Idea What You’re Doing
So this one might be pretty obvious. However, if you have no notion of what you're going to do for a particular job project, it's time to seek clarification and support from someone in your office.
It's pointless to torture yourself by attempting to handle a challenging project that you don't understand. If you do so, likely, it won't work out as planned, and you'll have wasted your (and everyone else's!) time. You'll also come across as obstinate and inept.
Consider this “Hey, I’m feeling a little confused about the details of the XYZ project. Could we set a time to sit down, talk through the nuts and bolts of this assignment, and make sure we’re on the same page?”
2. When You Have Too Much Task to Do
You kept enthusiastically answering “Yes!” to every project that landed in your lap, and now you’re completely buried under work. You’ve reached your limit, and you know that there’s absolutely no way you’ll finish everything by the deadline—even if you pulled all-nighters for the next three weeks.
If this happens to you, the next step you should be doing is to request help from your coworkers. You can feel as if you're avoiding responsibilities. However, everyone has been in this circumstance at some point in their lives. Just remember to return the favor the next time your coworker needs it.
Consider this: “I hate feeling like I'm shirking my responsibilities, but I'm so overwhelmed right now. Would you mind assisting me with the XYZ component of this project if you have any spare time? I know that's your area of expertise, and I'd be grateful for your assistance and advice!”
3. When You Made a Mistake
Because you're human, you're bound to make mistakes. But it's not so much what you did as it is how you react to it. Attempting to sweep things under the rug without anyone noticing is the worst thing you can do. And, if you try to fix your mistake by getting engaged in areas or departments where you don't belong, you may end up making things worse.
Sure, it's humiliating. If you need assistance with your blunder, contact the proper individuals in your office right away. You aren't the first person at work to make a mistake, and you won't be the last.
Consider this: “I'm so humiliated, but I completely screwed up ABC, and now I need XYZ to fix it. I apologize for the inconvenience and additional work. Thank you so much for your assistance!”
4. When You Need Additional Expertise or Insight
Even if you're a complete control freak, you already know that your primary focus should be on producing the most incredible possible work, not just something with your name on it.
So, if you're working on a project that you think would benefit substantially from the opinion of your coworkers, don't be afraid to ask them for their help. It fosters collaboration among your team members and helps make your project the very best it can be. Talk about a win-win.
Consider this: “I'm working on an XYZ project and would appreciate your experienced advice in this area. Is it possible to schedule a time when we can talk and bounce ideas off one other? I believe your contribution will help us take our idea to the next level!”
It's not always simple to ask for help. However, there are situations when it is necessary. If you find yourself in one of these situations, take a deep breath, swallow your pride, and ask for help from people in your office. It will be better for you in the long term.
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