How to ask for help at the work place

 

How to ask for help at the work place

 Here are some tips on how to ask for help at work:

 1.  Create a list of things you tried and potential solutions

 Your coworkers and supervisors may be more likely to help you if you have tried to resolve the issue and have some possible solutions you can try.  Doing so shows that you have tried to manage the challenge on your own and gives your colleague a place to start when they offer suggestions.  When you ask your coworkers for help, having these prepared not only demonstrates your competence and ability to solve problems but also lets them know what kind of problem you're having. 2.  Take your time. You can check with your manager or coworkers to see if they have time to help you when you ask for it. You can let them know if it is or isn't an emergency and ask if they can schedule a time to meet with you.  You can decide how to contact your colleague based on the urgency of the situation as well.  For example, you can call them or send a work chat if you need a more immediate response, or send an email if you have more time to wait for a reply.

 3.  Carefully choose who you ask

 When you are considering who to ask for help, you should choose someone who has expertise with your problem.  They might be familiar with the tools you're using or know how to answer your question. When you approach them for assistance, you can tell them that you appreciate their knowledge and experience.  Doing so can help build a collaborative relationship and help them feel acknowledged for their skills.

4.  Be specific in your request

 Being specific in your request helps your colleague or supervisor know what you are expecting from the conversation and what you are trying to solve.  This kind of specificity gives your coworker context and a starting point for collaboration and lets them know how much time they have to answer.  The following are some specifics that you ought to include in your request: How soon you need the answer

 A short overview of the project, for example, "I'm working on reconciling the contractor accounts."

 The specific problem you are having.

 A brief list of what you have tried.

 Any error codes you are getting.

 The kind of help you are asking for (like physical assistance, tools or advice).

 5.  Use a collaborative approach

 You demonstrate to your supervisors and coworkers that you are actively participating in the problem-solving process by approaching them with a collaborative mindset. The communication with your coworkers is likely to be appreciated, and when you come up with a solution together, you are often more likely to remember it. This collaboration may also lead to developing new processes that can prevent a similar problem from happening later on.

 6.  Be accessible to assist There will likely be a time when your coworker needs help solving a problem, too.  You are contributing to a work environment that emphasizes teamwork when you assist coworkers. You also build goodwill with your team, which can help them be more inclined to help you in the future.