No matter your issue – whether it’s making mistakes, missing deadlines, or simply needing assistance – always ask for it when needed. Sometimes, it might help to come prepared with ideas to present to your manager as part of this approach.
Seeking and receiving support are crucial aspects of working in collaborative environments, but how can you approach asking for it?
1. Know Your Limits
Asking for assistance may be intimidating, especially when you fear appearing needy or incapable. But if your workload has become challenging, perhaps now is the time to inform your manager that assistance may be required.
Before approaching your boss with your issue, take the time to organize your thoughts and anticipate any queries they might pose – this will allow for an effective dialogue where you can explain why your workload has become excessive and how it could help alleviate some of its burdens.
When you go to your boss with an issue, ensure you’ve exhausted every possible solution first. Knowing which solutions you have tried allows your supervisor to assess them and develop their own quickly. Doing this will save a great deal of back and forth which could otherwise ensue by going in without saying anything beforehand.
Suppose all your options fail, and you can still not solve an issue alone. In that case, emailing your supervisor can be beneficial in showing that you have given the matter serious thought rather than coming directly with your hands folded and seeking help from them. Furthermore, doing this saves them time trying to decipher what hasn’t worked for them alone, which is especially helpful for managers with limited time to solve these issues!
2. Know Your Manager’s Limits
Never approach your manager to ask for assistance without first exploring all available solutions. They could already have tasks they must attend to that could prevent them from providing immediate help with your issue.
Before going directly to your boss, attempt to resolve the problem yourself. Doing this will give you a chance to comprehend precisely the issue and its impact; for example, if stressing out over meeting deadlines is the source, identify why and find solutions.
As part of your professional growth, seeking assistance from mentors or colleagues may be necessary when faced with workplace difficulties. While this can be stressful, this experience should serve as an opportunity for personal development and professional growth. In particular, if a challenge prevents you from reaching your potential as an employee, it would likely be wise to bring this up with your boss.
Your boss may be more willing to assist with your problem when she understands its significance, and you brought it up before it became more severe. She may feel more at ease knowing you reached out early rather than waiting until it became urgent before coming begging for assistance.
Staying aware of a manager’s communication style and approach will enable you to better prepare for conversations and ensure the most of each interaction. For instance, if your boss tends to focus on results-oriented approaches, then try keeping things brief and to the point so they can return to their busy day as soon as possible.
3. Know Your Options
Even the best workers need help occasionally, yet many of us fear seeking support out of fear that doing so might come across as needy or incompetent. It is crucial that when assistance is required, you ask for it!
One key to asking for assistance is understanding your options. For instance, changing your schedule or asking a more available teammate may be beneficial if your daily tasks have become overwhelming and keep you awake at night.
One solution would be to present your manager with a list of possible solutions (even if none exist yet). This will demonstrate that you have taken some initiative in problem-solving rather than simply seeking their help.
Finally, it’s essential to remember that your boss likely has other priorities and may not be available or have the resources necessary to assist with all your issues. Therefore, using colleagues first is vital; only approaching your manager when all other avenues have been exhausted will prevent sounding like a child who needs her mom’s help!
4. Communicate Your Needs
Modern workplaces depend on cooperation and assistance among coworkers in order to succeed. Cross-functional teams, agile project management techniques, matrixed or hierarchy-minimizing structures – these all make it impossible to advance in one role without assistance from others.
Making requests can be intimidating and requires tact and understanding of how to communicate needs effectively in a way that compels others to assist.
First and foremost, be upfront with your situation and state your issue clearly in as few words as possible. Managers respond better when their requests are straightforward, clear, concise, and direct. Furthermore, having all possible solutions written down beforehand will save time when discussing them with managers and prevent back-and-forth discussions about potential solutions that might ensue.
Keep your messages clear and polite by communicating your emotions and needs as directly and precisely as possible. Avoid phrases like “I need some help,” which may come across as demanding or whiny; instead, state what the issue is and how you are feeling, such as: “I am feeling overwhelmed and exhausted by this project.”
One common misstep when asking for assistance is treating it like an obligation rather than a choice. When managers feel forced to assist their colleagues, it can often feel more like coercion than mutual benefit. By following these tips, you’ll be able to leverage their desire to assist by turning requests for assistance into collaborative opportunities that benefit all involved parties involved.
5. Follow Up
If you need support from your manager, it is essential to do it in an approachable and non-needy manner. This is particularly relevant if your request falls outside the scope of an annual review, such as more time or additional resources.
Follow up with your request to inform your manager that you still require their assistance, thus helping prevent confusion or miscommunication from arising later on. This can help maintain relationships and avoid future miscommunication or confusion.
When sending follow-up emails, they must be direct and concise. Your supervisor may be busy and doesn’t have time to read long texts; your goal should be to convey the necessary information so they can respond efficiently and quickly.
One way of accomplishing this is to use a specific subject line that details precisely what help is requested of them while providing some possible solutions you have already tried, if applicable. This will demonstrate that you’re not just asking for assistance at every sign of trouble but instead providing your boss with a starting point for their suggestions and assistance.
Be sure to end the email by making a polite but firm request for support from your manager. They may not always be able to meet your demands, but they will appreciate that you made genuine efforts and have offered solutions.