HELP

Asking for help is sometimes a difficult task for us to do. But knowing when we need it and seeking for it may help us to become better.

The time I wrote this, we just had our strategic planning for our fiscal year of 2023. It is the first time in 6 months that I met every leader involved in our project. People came from different backgrounds. There were those who worked abroad for at least 2 years and some for 10 years. They have seen what the world can offer and know that the team can do more because everything is possible.

There are some who are just starting their careers as leaders and brought with them tremendous expertise in their fields. They are analytical and data-driven in their approach.

There are some who changed from one career to another and had brought consolidated experience and knowledge with them to bring the project to a success.

Not to mention that we all came from different places and our own native cultures. The way we speak. The way we see things. Some are very fluent and very articulate. Some immediately command the room with just mere presence. And some are quiet and introverted.

We also had beauty queens as a bonus.

One of the things that came up in one of our activities is that someone wished he or she knew more about the project. Another one has a very great idea for a solution to an existing problem that he or she cannot do by him/herself.

So what’s preventing the solution from becoming a realization? It is being quiet. Being silent. Keeping it for him/herself.

Why is that? Maybe the person is afraid to ask questions for fear of being judged. Maybe that person does not know who to ask and just wishes everything will be fine. Or maybe his or her direct manager did not listen.

Whatever the reason is, the strategic planning session we had connected us to the rest of the leadership team whom we only knew by email or chat or virtual calls and by what they needed, what we needed, and when we needed it. The session helped us realize that we have a big team coming from different walks of life, expertise, and corners of the world who we could ask for help.

Yes. Ask for help. It is not something to be embarrassed about. Asking for help won’t make us incompetent. It would actually be the reverse. We can do more greater things by seeking help.

When I was a Real Time Analyst and creating an automated report, I learned that asking for help could accomplish more. There was a line of code that I was struggling and being young back then, I wanted to own the project I was doing and do everything on my own. But that roadblock really prevented me from completing the project. My co-RTA then, who is now an Assistant Vice President for one major bank in the US that has operations in the Philippines, saw me having issues. He immediately offered his help. I was reluctant at first but I want to finish the project so I let him help. And voila! A simply added syntax made the automation work! From then on, I always ask him for help and I get to learn new things.

Someone I know had not been responding to an email that got escalated after the fourth follow-up. The email lasted for 3 weeks unanswered. I asked the person what happened and the reply I got is, “I don’t know how to reply so I put it off. “ I told the person to ask me next time as I could help and provide guidance.

We all live on the same planet. We are more interconnected now compared to before the fall of the Berlin Wall and without the internet. We can talk to anyone we haven’t met. We have arguments with people we don’t know. We make friends with those who has the same interests as ours from the other side of the globe.

If you are struggling, ask for help. You can ask anyone. The first person you’ll talk to might not be the one that can help you but, eventually, you’ll find that person that can hold your hand and get you up.

When faced with challenges, don’t hesitate to seek help. Reach out to anyone you can. The first person you talk to might not be the one who can assist you, but eventually, you’ll find someone who can guide you and lift you up. Remember that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. It takes courage to admit when you need assistance, and it’s a step toward growth and progress. Embrace the support available to you, and trust that there are people willing to lend a helping hand.

Imagine a vast network of interconnected souls—a safety net woven from empathy, compassion, and shared experiences. Each thread represents someone willing to extend their hand, to guide you through the maze. It could be a friend, a family member, a mentor, or even a stranger who becomes an unexpected ally.

Consider the courage it takes to say, ‘I need help.’ It’s akin to stepping onto a bridge suspended over uncertainty. Beneath that bridge flows the river of vulnerability, and as you cross, you discover that vulnerability is not weakness—it’s strength in its purest form. It’s the raw honesty that binds us together, allowing us to lift each other up.

So, when life’s challenges cast shadows, remember this: You are not alone. Seek out those who can share their light. Be open to receiving, for in receiving, you also give others permission to lean on you when their own paths grow dim.

Embrace the mosaic of support—each piece unique, yet essential. And trust that, eventually, you’ll find the person who holds the missing fragment, completing your picture of resilience and hope.

Asking for help isn’t merely about lightening your load; it’s about expanding your capacity. It’s acknowledging that collective wisdom surpasses individual understanding. When you lean on others, you tap into a reservoir of shared experiences—a wellspring of resilience that quenches your thirst for growth.

Don’t take it all by yourself. Ask for help. By doing so, you become better than you were yesterday.