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"I just want a small help": 5 classic mistakes to AVOID while asking for
help
May 1, 2017 468 Likes 24 Comments
And wisdom says, when we do, we should have the humility to accept that we need it and ask for it.
Mistake #1) "I have to talk to you about something" - being unclear, indirect, devious
Sending vague messages like - "hey I want to talk to you about something" or "I have something to ask
you", is the most common mistake.
When people don't know what to expect in a discussion, but suspect something will be asked from
them - they raise their defense. This means they will resist more than they naturally would.
When people cannot take an informed decision* on the "urgency" of your need, they will usually
assign it a lower priority.
(Informed decision does not mean you writing "Urgent!! pls respond". It means you sharing the actual
facts and they deciding if it is urgent)
Stating upfront that you need help with <specify>, is your best bet.
Mistake #2) "I need a small help" - dening the magnitude of help
This is an extension of what I said earlier about informed decision. Whether something is urgent or not,
big or small - is the decision of the person who is extending the help.
We may make assumptions that something will take only a little effort or time from the other person,
but we may not know what is going on in the other person's life.
Often people use phrases like "small help" to try and make the help appear less daunting to the other
person
This approach too is a mistake and reduces chances of getting the help.
If your assessment of "small" help does not match the other person's assessment of the effort
required, they are likely to feel manipulated
People like to feel good about having extended some significant help. "Small help" doesn't sound
encouraging
Mistake #3) "You are a leader, you must give new-comers a chance" - obliged agreement
This is the worst mistake of all. The other person could be anyone or anything - coach, leader, rich, self-
made, etc, etc.
Just because people are from a certain background or profession, they are not obliged to stand by a
value system you think they should, and definitely not one that is convenient to your purpose.
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"You are from
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HR so you must give opportunity", "You are a woman, so you must consider my case"..
This method does not work because people don't like being cornered into doing anything.
A better way..
Present honest facts about how you will put the 'help' to genuine use
Taking authentic interest in the person's background and doing some research to find common ground
works better*
(*Authentic is the key word and common ground can be explored only if it exists, else it should not be
force-fitted)
Mistake #4) "Thought I will catch up....and I need some help" - showing care when you
don't mean it
This one feels like a sting. An ex-colleague calls unexpectedly, with a cheerful "Hiii" followed by
conversation on "its been a while, how have you been".
Just when the other person is starting to feel good about someone having remembered you in this
busy world, comes the killer statement (usually made to sound very casual)..
If the mistake in this approach is not already obvious, let me state it.
Even if you have called after ages, start with saying you are calling to seek help.
Finish that, then move to the "so..how have you been" part.
I once called the husband of a good friend with whom I barely had any contact in the last 5 years. Her
spouse was the national head of a major cab network. I was stranded in a remote location in Bangalore
after a workshop and could not find any cabs at a late hour.
Imagine calling the spouse of a friend, after 5 years, at 9.30 pm - did I mention - in another city!! -
to divert a cab for me.
"I am so embarrassed I am calling you after 5 years, so late, and disturbing you for something so trivial at
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your level.
24 Comments But I am stranded, and could not think of anyone else who could help me."
I told him that, because that is exactly and genuinely what I felt at that time.
"Hii its been a long time, how are you, etc, etc... listen can you please do me a favor. I am stuck at this
place, can you pleeeease help me get a cab?"
No TIA (Thanks in Advance) or tks (thanks said in the most unthankful way). If you are so lazy that you
cannot type out a proper thank you why should someone take out time to help you?
When do you think is a good time for me to check back with you?
If you have made attempts to contact twice, without a response, recognize it as a "no", send a polite
thankyou mail anyways, and close it.
There are always those people whom we can call at the middle of the night for help, have a terrible
fight and still know you can count on them, and perhaps don't even need to 'ask'.
Most others rest on fine lines dividing mere acquaintances, people we are 'friendly with', peers and a
whole lot of combinations.
In a dire situation, you would probably ask even a stranger for help.
But in all other circumstances, evaluating the nature of relationship is most critical to deciding
whether or not, when, how much and how you will ask for help.
Example: Often we add someone on LinkedIn and immediately send a very direct mail to review
someone's profile for a company you are working at, with an obligation to "respond at the earliest".
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Being sensitive to the relationship while asking for help is not only important to get the "help", but
also to begin and maintain the relationship itself.
What if the other person does not offer the help, we asked for?
Remember that the other person is not obliged to help you. No one is.
If you reached out to friends, family or someone you helped in the past, it hurts more.
But that is okay. As much as we hate it, we must allow people the right to say no.
Sometimes the reasons are justified, sometimes they are not. Most of the times, we never know the
REAL reason someone denied a help. We ASSUME.
So, this becomes the most important part about asking for help..
And when it is about human relationships, it cannot be about "techniques and strategies"...
It is about
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Written by
Swati Jena
Harvard II XLRI II Pearson II PwC
24 comments
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Leave your thoughts here
Jayanthi D 3h
Delivery Manager at Infosys
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The last paragraph is simply amazing about the way it summaries the crux...awesome read
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Nitin Jawarkar 1d
Middleware SME at HSBC Technology India (HTI)
Really eye opener article... Appreciate and thank you for sharing.
Like Reply 1
Namaste Madam, you have simply made me know the diplomacy of asking an help.
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Sunanda Rajaram 1d
Founder of ULLAAS HERBALS
I have asked for help from a few without making any of these 5 mistakes. I have been honest, straight forward, polite,
open and clear about my requirements and even assuring of not looking for micro details but generic bullet points.
But I have known many people do not come forward to share their knowledge for the fear of completion.
Like Reply 1 1
Good article.
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