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Ten Business Reasons Why Asking for Help Works
By: Martin Haworth
When you are in charge of a team, or a business, it is easy to
fall into the trap of being invincible. Asking for help is
something that''s easy to do - yet, to the uninitiated, it feels
like a weakening position. But there are a number of reasons
that is not so.
In fact, bringing your people - any of them - into your
confidence and asking for help, is a very powerful tool indeed.
The form of words'' "I need your help", works best. Here are Ten
Reasons why this is:-
- You Appeal to
Emotions
By asking an ''emotional'' question you become
very open and honest, which makes your people want to help you -
this is a positive and not a ''feeling sorry'' thing. It''s a very
natural reaction from them.
- You Value Others
Then they feel that you find at least something worthwhile in
them - it makes them feels hugely valuable - inside. This helps
bond your relationship and that of the team you are working with
as a whole.
- You Share the Load - and the
Experience
By having someone help you it makes for much
lighter work - ''a problem shared...'' etc. And by helping them
work through a tricky experience with you, they will develop and
grow for the future.
- Other People are Much Better
than You!
It''s true! You are not the best at everything
- nor do you need to be. In fact the very best managers and
leaders surround themselves with people who are much better, in
their own field, than they themselves are. That''s the sign of a
great manager or leader.
- You are a Model
By
asking for help yourself, you will show others that this is an
OK thing to do. Thus they will start to do the same. Needing
help is a challenge, yet it is all the better if it opens up
ways of working better, more supportively; more creatively
together. Lead the way!
- It Shows You are
Human
Yes, it''s OK too to have shortcomings. In fact
that old model of the boss who knows everything and is just
perfect was never true. By showing that you too have your ups
and downs; have weaknesses, fears and doubts, makes you much
closer to your people. (Hint - it''s how they are feeling)
- Vulnerability is Attractive
Ever stopped to help
an injured animal; or sooth a crying baby? How compelling was
that vulnerability? When you need and ask for help, you are a
much more interesting proposition. Your people will love you for
it!
- Their Confidence Builds
As you take on
board the support and help others give you, their ideas
translate into brilliant solutions to the problems. By
acknowledging the help you have been given and the real, better
solutions they have shared, they will become much more confident
- and a lack of confidence holds the whole world back.
- Two Heads are Better than One
Better solutions to
issues comes from collaboration. the "I need your help" may well
not be confined to a one to one relationship. By requesting help
from your whole team, you can leverage that whole relationship.
But take care not to dilute the effect by blandly using this
excellent tool - churning it out without real meaning. One to
one works best - because intimate, close and appealing requests
work best.
- You Stimulate Dialogue
As you have
done the asking, you encourage others to ''coach'' you! How cool
is that - the coach being coached! Yet, this dialogue is full of
incredible richness. In fact someone once wrote, "Business is
just a series of conversations" - what a wonderful start to
yours!
Try it next time you need some help. Start
small, with little challenges you have and build your and their
confidence. Watch out for the massive changes you see in your
relationships with others.
Martin Haworth:
© 2005 Martin Haworth is a Business and Management Coach.
He works worldwide, mainly by phone, with small business owners,
managers and corporate leaders. He has hundreds of hints, tips
and ideas at his website, www.coaching
-businesses-to-success.com.
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