At some point in everyone’s lives, we have all had to ask for it…  HELP!  Whether you are new to your career or you are a seasoned professional, we are all faced with learning new systems, a new procedure or a new way of doing something.  As policies, curriculum, and the integration of technology in the classroom continue to evolve, we are all faced with learning a new skill.

Requesting assistance from management, colleagues or even friends is something many people have trouble doing.  The truth of the matter is for many, they don’t believe they struggle to ask for help, but they do. Have you ever found yourself procrastinating on completing a project because you didn’t want to ask for help?

There are many reasons we fear asking for help from appearing vulnerable, weak, or incompetent.  The reality is we hate to admit it when we don’t know something.  Rather than reaching out and asking for help, we try to learn by trial and error, or we find ourselves getting defensive and try and persuade others that there isn’t a need for change.

It’s important to remember, that we all go through something called a natural learning curve when we are in the process of learning something new.  Perhaps you even share this concept with your students as they learn their new skill sets.  But, as Master Educators we often forget that we also go through a natural learning curve, and it’s ok!  The truth of the matter is we can’t all be experts in all areas. Yes, even Rockstar’s need help!

How do we get comfortable asking for help?  How do we get comfortable letting down our defenses?

• Change your mindset – Stop thinking you must know it all, remember, you can’t be an expert in all areas.
• Remember, most people like to help. It makes them feel good.
• Know when to ask for help – Try and solve the problem on your own, and then seek out help.
• Be prepared with a list of questions – Arm yourself with a list of questions and even a few potential solutions.  This can help you have a collaborative session than just a cry for help.
• Be present – Take detailed notes when asking for help.  This way you can refer to your notes to solve it yourself instead of having to ask for help again.

Getting comfortable asking for assistance can be a powerful tool. After all, how else will we continue to grow and evolve?  Keep these tips in mind when you find yourself a little over your head and need help.