4 Times Its Important to Ask for Help at Work - The Muse

4 Times Its Important to Ask for Help at Work - The Muse4 Times Its Important to Ask for Help at WorkI get it- there are some people out there who would rather stroll into work completely naked than suck up their pride and ask for help. For some reasons, many of us perceive a request for assistance as a sign of weakness, when- in reality- I think its actually a sign of great strength. Hey, it means youre self-aware and self-askoranversd enough to know when its time to call in some reinforcements.But, that doesnt necessarily mean that asking for help is easy. Nope, approaching someone in your office to ask him or her to lend a hand can actually be pretty anxiety-inducing. So, here are four instances when its definitely time for you to bite the bullet and ask- along with a suggestion for what to say in each scenario. Because the last thing you want to do is muster up your courage only to stammer your way through a rambling and unclear request. 1. When You Have No Idea What Youre DoingO K, so this one should be pretty obvious. But, if you have absolutely no idea what youre supposed to be doing for a particular work project, its time to approach someone in your office for some clarification and assistance. Theres no use torturing yourself by trying to blindly navigate a challenging project that you dont understand. If you do that, chances are it wont turn out as expected, and youll have wasted your own (and everyone elses) time. Plus, youll look stubborn and incompetent. So, take a deep breath and approach your supervisor or one of your co-workers in order to get a better understanding of the particular task and goals.Try This Hey, Im feeling a little confused about the details of the XYZ project. Could we set a time to sit down, talk through the nuts and bolts of this assignment, and make sure were on the same page? 2. When You Have Too Much on Your PlateIt happens to the best of us. You kept enthusiastically answering Yes to every project that landed in your lap, and now youre completely buried under work. Youve reached your limit, and you know that theres absolutely no way youll finish everything by the deadline- even if you pulled all-nighters for the next three weeks.Whats your next step? Request some assistance from your other co-workers. You may feel like youre shirking responsibility. But, everyone has been in this situation at least once in his or her life. Just be sure to repay the favor the next time your co-worker is feeling overwhelmedTry this I hate feeling like Im trying to pass off work on other people, but Im totally swamped right now. If you have any extra time, would you mind helping me with the XYZ aspect of this project? I know thats your area of expertise, and Id really appreciate your help and insight3. When You Made a MistakeYoure human, so mistakes are pretty much inevitable. But, its not exactly about what you did, its about how you react to it. The worst thing you can do is attempt to sweep it under the rug without a nybody noticing. And, if you try to remedy your error by getting involved in areas or departments where you dont really belong, you could very well make your problem even worse.Sure, its embarrassing. But, if you need help fixing your slip-up, make sure to approach the appropriate people in your office immediately. Youre not the first person to make a mistake at work- and you certainly wont be the last. Try this Im so embarrassed, but I completely messed ABC up, and now I need XYZ done in order to fix it. Im so sorry for the confusion and extra work. I really appreciate your help 4. When You Need Additional Expertise or InsightEven if youre an extreme control freak, you already know that your focus should be placed on turning out the best work possible- not just something that has your name all over it.So, if youre working on a project you think could greatly benefit from the additional input of your co-workers, never hesitate to ask them to lend their advice and talents. It fosters collaboration among your team members, and also helps to make your project the very best it can be. Talk about a win-win. Try this Im working on XYZ project, and Id love your expert insight on this particular area. Can we set up a time when we can chat and bounce some ideas off of each other? I really think your input could take this project to the next levelAsking for help isnt always easy. But, sometimes its downright essential. If you find yourself in one of these scenarios, take a deep breath, swallow your pride, and approach others in your office for some much needed assistance. I promise- itll be better for you in the long run.