Jessica has just a few hours left to finish an important proposal. She has well-crafted and compelling arguments and the right data to support them, but she has no tables or graphs. She could ask her colleague Paul to help create the visuals she needs; however, she worries he might think that she can’t do her job.
Sound familiar? We all have, at one time or another, avoided asking for help for fear that people would judge us. However, some experts say that rather than driving people away, requesting assistance can help build relationships. By asking a colleague to help complete a difficult task, you show that you think that person has valuable skills. By generously lending a helping hand, your colleague feels a sense of accomplishment. And as you collaborate in completing the task, you develop teamwork skills.