How to get better at asking for help - Dorie Clark
This summer, I learned the importance of communication. I took a lot of vacation time, and I wanted to make sure everything continued to progress in the office while I was away. One of my coworkers was away for an internship and the other had his own projects to work on. Who would take over my work while I was away? I felt bad taking so much time off and consequently leaving my portion of the work to everyone else’s already replete to-do lists.
It took some humility to admit that I could not keep up with everything on my plate. Specifically, a new security camera installation project had just begun, and I was assigned to help coordinate installations in various entry spaces around campus. It required a lot of training to get me familiar and comfortable with the process, and as soon as I was, I had to leave. However, it was not as stressful as it could have been because I planned. I made sure my team was all on the same page regarding project expectations and talked with the full-time project managers to make sure my portion of the work would get done. If I had just left without saying anything, we would have fallen behind, failed to meet our goal of 120 installs before the start of the semester, and not received cinnamon rolls as a reward for meeting this goal.
I’m grateful I had this experience before I left for most of the summer. Upon my return, I was able to settle back in smoothly. Projects had been completed, and I had peace of mind while I was away. I learned that trusting in my team is essential. Communication builds relationships, and not being afraid to delegate assignments helps others feel more comfortable asking you for your help in return.