Developing a team culture where everyone is comfortable asking for help and helping others is a critical leadership skill.
- Asking for help is not a weakness. It takes confidence and an understanding that being “Independent” is only the middle stage of development.
- Brené Brown describes how asking for help builds trust and Patrick Lencioni describes trust as the foundation for great teams.
Asking for help effectively requires:
- Identify the best people who can help you whether they are inside or outside your company. Find people who are about one stage of development past where you are trying to get to so they have enough mastery of the topic to explain it simply.
- Formulate really good questions for them. Taking the time to form great questions shows respect to those you are asking and will help you get the answers you are looking for.
- Setup the right timing for the person you are asking even if it is not optimal for you. Again; this shows respect and will help you get your answers.
As you receive help from others make sure you always help others.