VNTHOMAS: All you have to do is ask - how to master the most important skill for success by Wayne Baker

December 26, 2020

All you have to do is ask - how to master the most important skill for success by Wayne Baker

A HUMAN DILEMMA: IT’S HARD TO ASK FOR HELP

1. WE UNDERESTIMATE OTHER PEOPLE’S WILLINGNESS AND ABILITY TO HELP.

2. WE OVER-RELY ON SELF-RELIANCE.

3. WE PERCEIVE THERE TO BE SOCIAL COSTS OF SEEKING HELP

4. OUR WORK CULTURE LACKS PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY.

5. THE SYSTEMS, PROCEDURES, OR STRUCTURE OF OUR ORGANIZATION GET IN OUR WAY.

6. WE DON’T KNOW WHAT TO REQUEST OR HOW TO REQUEST IT.

7. WE WORRY WE HAVEN’T EARNED THE PRIVILEGE OF ASKING FOR HELP

8. WE FEAR SEEMING SELFISH.

(1) QUICK-START METHOD

DETERMINING YOUR GOALS AND NEEDS

I am currently working on .....and I could use help to

One of my urgent tasks is to...and I need to

I am struggling to ...and I would benefit from

One of the biggest challenges in my life is to and I need advice on

My biggest hope is to ---- and I need

(2) ARTICULATING YOUR GOALS

Describe the Goal: Provide concrete details about what you are working toward, and be sure to include why the goal is meaningful and important to you.
Date the goal. Pick a specific time by which you hope to attain or accomplish your goal.
Choose a metric. Finally, you need a metric—an objective measure that will tell you clearly whether you’ve accomplished your goal by the date you specified. Determine your needs.
Needs: Information, advice, recommendation, referral, financial, human resources, participation & physical resources.

(3) YOUR VISION

The vision should also be

(1) inspiring,

(2) strategically sound,

(3) documented, and

(4) communicated.

TRANSLATING YOUR NEEDS INTO SMART REQUESTS (specific, measurable, action-oriented, realistic and time-bound)

What are the key issues you want to address in your organization?

VNTHOMAS