Project Management Tip: Ask for Help!
Asking for help is one of the most critical steps to effectively get things done, innovating in your projects, and advancing your career.
But, why is asking for help so hard?
- We are taught to be self-reliant. Self-reliance is a great skill to have, but not at the expense of collaborating and reaching out to others around you to learn from them.
- We have horrible experiences with group projects in college/business school. The first group projects we have, while still in college, are rarely stellar. Usually, it’s a group of people without a common goal, understanding, or approach, working to complete a project they are most likely not interested in.
- We are proud. Many people are very hesitant to ask for help, because they see it as a sign of weakness. Others have a strong sense of pride that prevents them from showing others that they don’t know the answer, or have the solution.
Asking for help is actually a great way to grow stronger relationships within your work environment. Consider that…
- Most people are flattered when someone asks them for help. By asking for help from someone, you are acknowledging their expertise and/or knowledge in a particular area. Most people will go out of their way to help you once you have done this.
- Changes you didn’t know were possible can happen. Let’s say you’re stuck on a project, and just can’t see a solution. Often, asking for help from a team leader, manager, etc. can lead to resources, tools, and solutions you didn’t even know were possible. Frequently, project tasks, and even entire projects, can be re-prioritized when you ask for help. You will learn dramatically from these situations.
- Usually, people are more likely to reach out to you when they need help. By asking for help, you open up a line of communication with other people where they are more likely to ask you for help in return. Again, you never know just where this can take you.
So, the next time you need to, go ahead and ask for help! You’ll probably be surprised with the results.