Help!

I was chatting with some leaders last week about how important it is to ask for Help when we need it. But we also admitted how hard that can be because it can give the perception of being weak, especially as the leader!  However, I would like to propose that one of the greatest signs of strength and wisdom in a leader is when they admit they may not know something and ask for Help from others.

Let's think about it like this, as a person grows in their leadership capacity they are often taking on greater responsibility. All of those areas of responsibility may not be tasks they are completing themselves, but they are responsible for making sure they are getting handled somewhere.  And some of the best leaders I know surround themselves with people in those areas who are experts at those tasks.

For example, I have a number of friends who are CEOs or Executive Directors of their organizations. Part of their responsibility is to oversee the budgeting and financial planning, but several of them aren't wizards at Excel! If they were tasked with creating all of the financial reporting documents and procedures, the company would fall apart! But they have surrounded themselves with other people who are Excel wizards (by the way, maybe that should be a new official title?!). The CEOs are responsible for the budgeting process/oversight, but the other individuals take ownership for the task of putting it all together in an appropriate way.  So, when the CEO needs a report for the board, or a meeting in the community, they reach out - Help!  

Here's the thing, could my friends become Excel Wizards if they had enough time? Sure, but how much time might that take, and would that be the best use of their time? Instead, they realize they don't have to be an expert on everything, and it's actually a sign of strength to depend on their fellow team members and trust them to Help!

As you think about all of your areas of responsibility, where could you turn for some Help? Who might be in your circle of teammates that might have different strengths and gifts than you? What would it take to remind yourself that asking for Help isn't a sign of weakness, but it's actually a sign of great strength?

Here's to asking for Help this week!

Be Well,

Stephen

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