Have you ever thought that we can improve our asking for help skills and even approach asking for help as a practice? Our awareness of the specific type of help we are asking for and the words we use to ask for help can be fine-tuned. Indeed, the more our request for help is precise the higher our chances of obtaining the help we actually want and avoid frustrations on both sides (feelings of not being heard or not being appreciated).
AT PERCOLAB WE HAVE DEVELOPED A SIMPLE TOOL TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR ASKING FOR HELP CULTURE👇
Download, print and use the free Art of Asking for Help poster.
We have seen how it can open up space and deconstruct preset minds. We have noticed that it can work with everyone. Here’s how to use it 👇
Before you dive into the typology, think of a moment when you offered help recently and think of a moment when you asked for help recently. Jot down your examples.
Read through the typology and see where they fit. If your examples are not in the typology, let me know so the typology can evolve and strengthen with our collective intelligence.
COACHING
Ask me questions
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
Tell me information or perspective
EXPERTISE BASED
Give me an expert audience
PHYSICAL ACTION
Give me a hand
SOLIDARITY
Step in with or for me
EMOTION
Provide moral support
IDEA GENERATION
Think creatively with me
ATTENTION
Can you listen to me
KICK IN THE BUTT
Motivate me
PRACTICE
Be my audience
INTERVENTION SUPPORT
Protect and care for me
ENRICHING
Give feedback on my idea
INTELLECTUAL – INTUITIVE
Make sense with me
DEMONSTRATE
Show me how to
MATERIAL SUPPORT
Loan or give me something
Now, write down two requests for help using the typology. Go and ask someone for help. If the person can’t answer the first request, try the second one. How was that? Did you notice a difference?
Where could you practice the kindness of asking for help?
As collaboration and participatory leadership are on the rise, our capacity to excel at asking for help is becoming all the more important. The time of the hero leader who could figure everything out on his or her own is over.
Note: Feel free to adapt and adjust this typology. Think of it as a commons. I invite you to share how you are using it and how it is evolving with your usage.
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Written by Samantha Slade
Co-creation | Social innovation | Going Horizontal. Collaborating to face the socio-ecological transition.