I am a person of confidence. I have come a long way, overcome many challenges, and met with a lot of success in my life. I’m not boasting by any means – I certainly have made more than my fair share of mistakes, and there are a million things I know that I’m not good at. But the point is, I am an assertive, independent kind of guy with a pretty healthy measure of self-confidence.
I appreciate challenges and like to do things myself. But sometimes, I have to ask for help.
Though I always strive for my personal best, sometimes I have to admit that my personal best is just not enough for the situation at hand. That’s where teamwork and asking for help comes in.
In his trademark to-the-point style, author and speaker Seth Godin says this about choosing to do everything yourself:
“Any time you do work yourself, you’ve chosen not to use the services of someone who’s probably better at it than you are. There might be really good reasons for that choice, but inertia isn’t one of them.”
So what does this mean for you? If you’re a leader, (and I believe everybody is a leader!), don’t be afraid to delegate appropriately to talented members of your team. If you’re not in a position to delegate, then don’t be afraid to simply ask for help when you know someone else’s talents are better suited to the task at hand.
Please note: This is not a permission slip to get out of work you can easily do, and it’s not an excuse not to challenge yourself.
This is merely a reminder that sometimes, asking for help is the very best option – so don’t be afraid to swallow your pride, unclench your fists, and invite someone to come alongside you and help carry your burdens!
Can you relate? Has there been a time recently where you had to admit you could use some help?
To read Seth Godin’s full blog post, please click here.
