We’ve all been there: you’re doing your work, get stuck, and need help — but you’re worried about bothering your coworkers or asking an obvious question. To make the best impression possible, there are a few trusted steps that you should follow.

  • Do your homework – Confirm that your question is worth asking. If you are asking a question such where there is a right or wrong answer, try looking for the answer yourself by searching online and digging through your inbox, team folder, and company intranet. The idea is to do what you can yourself so that you make the most of your time with others. If you can find an answer you are confident is correct during your digging, then no need to ask your question. If you can’t, then it makes sense to ask.

If you are asking a question where there isn’t always a “right” or “wrong” answer — only “better” or “worse” approaches, brainstorm multiple options and identify the one where the pros most outweigh the cons. If you can identify an option that is clearly superior to the others and is a decision you can make without impacting other people, then no need to ask your question either — you just found the approach that others would have suggested anyways. If you can’t, then it makes sense to ask.

  • Find the best person at the best time – Once you have a question that makes sense to ask, the next step is to identify the least disruptive — and therefore most effective — way to approach other people. Ask yourself these questions:
    • Who is the best person to ask?
    • When is the best time to ask?
    • Where is the best place to ask?
  • Show your homework – Don’t just ask your question; share all the hard work you’ve done to help yourself before involving other people. If others tell you something, repeat it back, repeat it to yourself, take notes — do whatever you need to remember what they said. If you have to ask again (or if you keep relying on the same person), consider approaching someone else.

In the end, asking for help is only partly about getting help. It’s also about proving that you deserve the help. A bit of extra legwork can make a big difference in your productivity, not to mention your reputation.

 

Reference:
Harvard Business Review (2021, April 29) Gorick Ng: How to Ask for Help at Work