I’ve worked with a lot of really smart people. Ph.D., famous in their fields, a list of accomplishments I would kill for, but I only asked for their advice when I had no other choice. They were a little scary and I only went to them if I had to.
My friends were easier to ask. They were my go-to guys every day. If I was doing something stupid they wouldn’t ding me for it. It’s more comfortable to ask your friends.
Help is reciprocal. When you ask someone for help they’re more likely to ask you. They might feel like you owe them, or just feel more comfortable because you were a little vulnerable. It feels good when someone asks for your help.
Every time my coworkers ask for help it’s a little validation that my telecommuting is going well. I’m building those team connections and being a full member of the team.
I want my team to ask for help, so I make sure I’m:
- Contactable
- Approachable
- Supportive
- Friendly
How do you make it easy for your team to ask for your advice?
