I hope you had a very enjoyable weekend.
Each week I am writing about the A to Z’s of Successful Business Owners and Leaders and this week is all about “S for Support”
Of course, it is also about ‘Success’ and the A to Z’s so far are about the qualities that business owners and leaders need to have to succeed.
As you know, I write my blog and email it to you as well. You can find my Blog, along with past posts HERE.
Successful people get things done. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be very successful.
But how do they do it?
They have big goals, they plan, they take risks, and they overcome setbacks.
But there is one more thing they do that greatly improves their chances of success – they ask for help.
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don’t know something, and to learn something new”.
-Barack Obama-
Asking for help comes in many forms – teambuilding, delegating, seeking a mentor or a coach, or outsourcing.
With all those opportunities to receive help, why do so many of us refuse to ask for it?
Fear!
- Fear of appearing weak.
- Fear of losing autonomy.
- Fear of rejection.
Whether you’re afraid of asking or merely don’t know where to find support, here are some tips to help you get the support you need to help you realise your dreams.
- Hire freelancers or an assistant. Need more time to concentrate on what you love to do, a.k.a. what you’re good at? There will most likely be an upfront investment in time, training, and cash but the payoff can be huge. Once you get the ‘delegation bug’ you’ll wonder how you survived without it.
- Seek advice from colleagues by recognising their value. Instead of saying, “I’m in over my head! Can you help me?!” try, “I was impressed with your presentation. Could you take a look at mine and provide some feedback?”
- Bartering is back. Limited funds? Think about offering your service in exchange for a service you need.
- Find a mentor. Chances are you know someone with the ‘been there done that’ experience you need. These savvy guides can offer inspiration, help you avoid the mistakes they’ve made, and provide contacts through their network.
- Mastermind groups. Whether you’re looking for practical advice, accountability buddies, or the occasional shoulder to cry on, peer groups can help keep you on track to reach your goals. You give and receive help – a win-win situation!
- Assess your existing resources. Help could be right under your nose. Do you have colleagues, peers or friends who could help? Start there and always look for opportunities to cultivate your network.
- Lastly, could you hire a home-assistant. Unless chores are a form of meditation for you (as they can be to some), hiring someone who cooks, cleans, and runs errands can be well worth the cost. If that’s not in the budget delegate tasks to all members of the family / co-habitees to share the burden.
Seeking help doesn’t always come naturally to us, even when we know we need it. But asking for help can make a huge difference in your performance and ability to achieve success.
Besides, doing everything alone is not only unrealistic it’s unhealthy. Once you get over your fear and seek the help you need you increase the chances of accomplishing your goals with less effort, more time and less stress.
What’s stopping you from finding support?
“He who is afraid of asking is ashamed of learning”
-Danish Proverb-
I hope you have enjoyed this “Thought for the Week” and it has sparked some creativity new thinking! I would love to know what you think about all of this!
And if you haven’t already, remember that I would love to help you to explore you own hopes, dreams and challenges and create a roadmap to success with you. You can book your Free Clarity Session
There is absolutely no obligation and we can meet via Zoom or Skype.
Have a great week!
Very best wishes for your success.
Korinne