INT 048: How and when to ask for help while not feeling inferior

For anyone working in the modern workplace (but especially for women), it can seem daunting and difficult to admit you need help. You might feel you’ll be labeled incompetent or incapable. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth! There’s no shame in admitting when you need help, and in today’s episode of IntHERrupt, Linda is joined by Judy Joffe to learn how to ask for help without feeling inferior. 

Nobody knows everything.

• There’s always someone who knows more and is better at the things you do know.
• Everyone makes mistakes, but making mistakes doesn’t mean you’re stupid. It just means you have an opportunity to learn and grow.
• If you’re deciding whether or not you’ll need help, use phrases like “I’d like to think about it” to buy time to calm your inner self and figure out what you can bring to the table.
• Position yourself to go back to the project in control of your environment.

How can you ask for help and still feel confident?

• Lead from your strengths. In an ideal world, everybody wants to help you. (But that’s not always the case.)
• When working with someone difficult, think inward. Is it about them wanting you to look worse, or are you projecting your own insecurity and imposter syndrome? Think about it and address the problem accordingly.
• You can use phrases like “that’s challenging,” “that’s a great idea,” or “that’s an interesting concept” to buy yourself time to figure out where the problem in communication lies.

You need to ask for help when: 

• You know you’ll impact the quality.
• You know that without help, you’ll delay the deadline.
• You know you won’t have time to research the project.
• If the project is something outside you or our team’s expertise.

As a leader, how can you help people feel comfortable coming to you for help?

• Build an open relationship where your team will be unafraid to come to you.
• Give your team resources, so they have avenues to follow if they need it.
• If you, as the leader, are unafraid to ask for help, your team will have more confidence in you and be more willing to do the same.
• If you ask people for input and feedback, you’ll end up with a better project because the whole team will have buy-in into the project.

To get in contact with Judy, connect with her on LinkedIn. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.