Martha was under a lot of stress. Her company’s supply chain was experiencing major disruptions, requiring her team to put in extra time. Even though her people were highly qualified, she was very reluctant to ask any of them to do more. They already had enough on their plates, she believed, and it was her responsibility to step up. She had the same attitude toward her boss. Martha didn’t want to approach him for help, figuring that if she did, he wouldn’t be pleased.
Why It’s So Hard to Ask for Help
And how to get past what’s blocking you
Summary.
Although human beings are naturally social creatures, ready to both give and accept help, many of us struggle to actually ask for it, which over time can make us miserable and bitter. And because remote work is on the rise, leaving many of us isolated from colleagues, the challenges of asking for help have only intensified. To feel fulfilled and be successful both personally and professionally, it’s important to acknowledge and accept when you are working beyond your own capacity and be open to asking others for help. In this article the author, a management scholar and a leadership guru, looks at what drives people’s reluctance to seek help and offers strategies for overcoming the barriers.
A version of this article appeared in the July–August 2023 issue of Harvard Business Review.