• Skip to main content

Association of Laboratory Managers

ALMA without Website-11

ALMA

Enabling Lab Managers to Become Better Leaders
Search
  • Home Page
  • About ALMA
  • Sponsors
    • Meet Our Sponsors
    • Become a Sponsor
  • Job Board
    • View Job Postings
    • Advertise Your Job
  • Contact Us
  • Resources & Documents
    • Resources
    • Conference Attendees
      • 2019 Conference Minneapolis
      • 2018 Conference Philadelphia
      • 2017 Conference San Diego
      • 2016 Conference Nashville

10 Tips for Asking for Help at Work

Help SignFor many people, asking for help is a significant challenge.  We have all heard the cultural stories about men being unable or unwilling to ask for directions, even when hopelessly lost.  Fortunately, asking for help is a skill we can all learn and improve.  Asking for help is the single best way to get help, and is a clear tool that the most successful people have figured out.  In this complex world, no one has the knowledge and experience to tackle difficult problems alone.  It may take a village to raise a child, but it also takes help to master the important work challenges.

Here are 10 tips to help you improve both your own and your team’s skills at asking for help:

  1. Clearly understand the problem, goal, or objective
  2. Be specific
  3. Express why you need help
  4. Ask for something that is actionable by the helper
  5. Be realistic
  6. Formulate requests with a due date
  7. Build a network of people willing to ask and willing to help
  8. Be direct and authentic
  9. Thank people who ask you for help
  10. Asking for help enables others to provide help, which feels good

These tips are based on the recent book, “All You Have to Do Is Ask” by Prof. Wayne Baker.  Please read the book to get more tips and more details.  Submitted by Scott Hanton, ALMA Board Member

Get In Touch!

alma@labmanagers.org

516.900.2562
voice message only

PO Box 146
Tenafly, NJ 07670-0146

Additional Resources

Post a Job Opportunity

Become a Sponsor

Join Our Community

Privacy policy

About Us

ALMA, an IRS 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is led by a volunteer board of active laboratory managers. Their commitment to educating their peers is evident in their planning and organizing of our outstanding Annual Conference, webinars, and educational content.

© 2021 Association of Laboratory Managers. All Rights Reserved.