Sometimes, there comes a point in your career when it seems like you just have too much going on and it’s overwhelming. You might get hit with a bunch of projects at once, sign up a significant amount of new clients, or take on starting your own business or some other major endeavour. You may feel like you have far too much to do and no idea how to accomplish it on your own. When this feeling strikes, it’s likely that it’s time to ask for help or you risk burning out. Many people, especially those who value hard work and success, find it hard to ask for help. If you’re self-sufficient, it can seem like admitting defeat if you ask someone else to help, but sometimes it’s the best way to help yourself. You must learn how best to ask for help when you truly need it.
Identify the people you can trust
When you ask people for help, you need to know who will actually help you and who you can trust to get the job done. Whether these are people at work, in your personal life, or somewhere else, you need to have a network that you can turn to for help with projects or other issues that arise when you feel overwhelmed with responsibilities.
Learn how to delegate at work
It’s likely that the place you’ll need the most help is at work. If you’re a manager at a company, you’ll have a significant amount of work to get done. As a leader, you must know how to delegate responsibility so you do not become overwhelmed. While delegating isn’t exactly the same as directly asking someone for help, it achieves the same end goal and it’s a skill that must be developed.
Develop the ability to say “no”
If you’re a driven individual, it’s probably difficult for you to say “no” when people ask you to help with projects and events. You should definitely make an effort to be involved and further your career as much as possible while helping other people, but sometimes you simply need to say “no.” If you already have a lot on your plate, don’t be afraid to tell someone “no” when they ask you to take on more leadership roles.
Grow from your mistakes
Maybe you are currently overwhelmed and have already encountered failure in meeting certain deadlines because of the amount of work you have to do. If this situation applies to you, it’s okay. Move on from the experience and learn from what happened so you do not make the same mistake again.
Be able to ask people directly
Finally, when you do ask people for help, do so directly. Asking for help can be challenging, but don’t make it more difficult on yourself by confusing people as to whether or not you’re actually requesting they assist you with a task. Learn how to approach people and politely ask for their help, but in a way that makes it clear what you’re asking and how they can work with you.
