Being of service to others is a standard requirement for a leader, yet many struggle with being on the receiving end. Many of us are taught the importance of giving, but very few of us learn the art of receiving. To rectify this, there are action steps you can take when asking for help that will allow you to build a connection with others and become a more effective leader.
But before we look into those steps, we must first accept that asking for help is an internal choice and it is not always easy. We’ve been conditioned to feel that somehow we need to figure things out all on our own and that asking for help is a sign of weakness. It is actually a sign of strength. When you are able to see the value in others and what they bring to the table, it can help you and the team run more effectively.
Take my colleague, Sheila, for example. Sheila was in a holding pattern with her business for a number of years. She understood what needed to happen to be able to move to her next level and the partnerships that needed to be created, but she was challenged with stepping outside of her comfort zone to ask for help. This caused her to miss out on growth opportunities for years. To get her in the right direction, she needed to identify the individuals and places where her ideal partners would be available. She had to release the need to figure it out all on her own. One day after much frustration, she picked up the phone and said three words, “I need help.” At that moment, we brainstormed and she left with solutions to implement immediately.