Positive PayOffs to Asking For Help
Asking For Help Made Easy - Show Your Strength Not Your Weakness
Ready to stop trying to do everything on your own?
Ready to start accepting that you're only one person, you have limitations and that this is OK?
Ready to ask for help? Fantastic, here are 5 quick and easy steps to make asking for help easy.
The art of asking for help doesn’t come easily. What if the tables were turned? What if someone asked for your time, skills or expertise to support them in a specific way? Chances are you’ll feel flattered to have been asked, enthusiastic and generally happy to assist. So what’s the difference because at some point, even the best of us need help?
Knowing when to ask for help and understanding why you need it, is ultimately the most important thing. Whether it's as small as asking your partner/child to make the beds, or something as big taking over the reigns on a big project at work, here are some tips for asking for help:
5 Steps to Asking For Help With Ease
Be Open: Start by explaining what you want to achieve; giving someone the reason behind your request and showing them how they may help you achieve it, contextualises the need and the size of the request.
Be Precise: Know what you want. Although this sounds obvious we are often not clear with others exactly what it is that you’re in need of. Note down a few key points and think through exactly what kind of help you need. You want to be specific and direct to enable people to understand for themselves how big the ask is and when they will be required to help.
Be Timely: Last minute asks puts pressure on your potential helper, which could make them feel they are backed into a corner, either grudgingly to help, or to say no straight away, which is a missed opportunity for you both.
Be Flexible: Understand you may receive a portion or slightly altered version of the help you requested. That’s great, it’s still help, so accept, adapt and move on.
Be Human: If at all possible, make the request in person. Next best method is phone. You want to show effort and respect for your request. Once you have the help, show sincere gratitude in what ever way you can, but don’t over-do it!
Personal Perspective
I have worked like a lone super-hero battling with work and home life, handling everything without delegation and expecting myself to get through it all at a rapid, unstoppable rate. I thought I was in control until I went to start an MA; there was no way on earth that was going to happen if I didn’t share. The reality was I would have exhausted myself before the end of the first semester.
So I identified areas that I was more comfortable with others doing, not easy, but the response was unexpected. I had assumed it would be a burden for others and I’d feel guilty. The willingness and appreciation of being asked really touched people. We had frank conversations about what was feasible and we had a go.
Payoff to Asking
Starting to ask for help in your life opens up your mindset and attitude towards what you deserve and that simple shift in prioritising what you want will have a big impact on not just your own self esteem. That stubborn portion of our ego that believes we can do anything isn’t always right.
