I need your help.

Those four monosyllabic words pack quite a bit of power in a small space.  How did you feel the last time someone asked you for your help?  I’d wager that you felt something akin to pride, confidence, appreciation, or generally good – in other words, it probably was a positive emotion.  How did you feel the last time you were struggling with something and reached out to someone you trust for help?  Again, I’d bet it was in the positive realm, especially once the collaboration began.

Some of us are “wired” to ask for help more easily than others.  Some of us view the act as a sign of weakness.  It is a gift.  Using those four words (or similar ones) benefits the person asking, the person being asked, and most importantly the organization and/or customers being affected by the problem which needs to be addressed.

Marketers, struggling with some aspect of a campaign?  Ask your sales teams for help.  Their insights will undoubtedly uncover things you didn’t think about.

Managers, ask your employees.  You face problems everyday which could benefit from input from outside the management sphere.

Dentists, ask your teams and your patients.

I think you get the gist of what I’m trying to say here.  There is power in what may seem like vulnerability of asking for help.  You’ll feel better.  The person you ask will feel better.  You’ll grow closer as a team.