Top tips for asking for help at work

There are times when we all need some help at work. We might have made a mistake, or have taken on too many responsibilities, or are feeling like we don’t have the right skills or training to undertake the work assigned to us.

Unfortunately, many employees are worried about asking for help. They may believe they are imposing on others, are concerned they will be judged as incompetent or lazy, or think their co-workers will be reluctant or unable to assist. Another reason workers don’t ask for help is because they are unsure how to.

In the following paragraphs, Skillset offers its top tips for asking for help in the workplace so you can get the assistance you need without undermining your reputation:

1. Ask early

First and foremost – don’t delay the problem! If you have made a mistake, or a set of challenges is causing a significant backlog and making the problem worse, then seek help as quickly as you can. Basically, there will be fewer options available to resolve the problem if you leave it, and your co-workers and your boss are likely to be less sympathetic if the problem could have been remedied earlier with a simpler – and possibly – more cost effective solution. If the problem is affecting your mental health, it is important to be proactive and ask for assistance as soon as possible from your boss, co-workers, family, friends or GP, if necessary.

2. Work out who is best to help

Every problem has a solution – so stop and think, who is the best person to help me with my problem?

For example, if you are finding it difficult to locate key information you need in the company’s file system, then you may be able to ask someone who sits near you, or someone who does the same type of job as you, for some help. If you are having some challenges working out the most appropriate course of action for undertaking a certain project or job as part of your role, it might be best to speak to your boss or someone you know with experience in this area. To solve your problem, try to select the most appropriate person to help you.

3. Pick your moment

Even though you might be feeling like you need help immediately, choosing the right time to approach your co-workers or boss will definitely impact on the amount of help they can provide. You also risk damaging your reputation – or being seen as inconsiderate – if you ask for assistance at an inappropriate time.

For instance, if you know your colleagues are going into a big meeting soon and are busy preparing for it – or you see your co-workers hard at work trying to get a project finished for a customer – it is probably best to wait until these tasks have been completed before you ask for help.

The most suitable time to ask for assistance is when you know your boss or co-workers are free. If they are generally busy and they never seem like they have time available, send them an email or SMS which asks for some time in their diary.

4. Get your facts together

Before you go to someone for help, it is essential that you collect as much information as you can about the problem. As an example, if you are having difficulties getting through all your work each day, you might think about gathering the following information:

• How many tasks are you being asked to do?
• How long do each of these tasks take?
• What is the priority for each of these? For example, do any of these have internal or external deadlines?
• What work isn’t getting completed?
• Who is the ‘client’ for each of these tasks?

This information will help with making decisions about how your problem can be resolved. As a result, it is recommended that you write this information down so it can be presented during your discussion or meeting.

It is also a good idea to come to the meeting with a possible solution. Could some of your work be delegated to someone else? Could one of your deadlines be changed? Think about the possible alternatives to your situation. Doing so, will demonstrate that you have initiative and wish to play an active part in finding a resolution to your problem.

Finally, it is worth highlighting that you shouldn’t be scared or concerned about asking for help. Asking for help shows that you care and even though you may not believe it, most people are happy to help out. Understandably, people can’t help if they don’t know you are struggling or having a hard time, so it is important to communicate your needs.

In conclusion, the following quote about asking for help – and what you can achieve if you do – from the late Steve Jobs from Apple is a good one to remember:

“I’ve never found anybody that didn’t want to help me if I asked them for help … Most people never ask. And that’s what separates sometimes the people who do things from the people that just dream about them.”