In many organisations, it’s clearly evident that to advance in your career there is a need to learn and find out more about how best you can succeed. In fact, it’s believed that your performance, development, and career progression depend more on how you seek advice and referrals from others on how best you can advance your career. Jane Muganzi, a career and mentor expert working with Women in News says when it comes to career development finding a solution to how you can go about it is the way forward, which is all about seeking help from others. “In any working environment or in life in general, no one will be there to read your mind to know exactly what you need, if you don’t step up and seek help, then it’s easier to remain stagnant in everything you are doing,” she says. She goes on to note that it’s ideal for people to understand that we all need help at some point, and there is no shame in seeking one in case there is a need. The career expert points out that the major reason why people tend to shun looking for help is that they believe they can rely on themselves all the time, which according to her is wrong. How to get along with this she says the first step is getting over your reluctance to ask for assistance, as well as understanding that if this doesn’t happen, you would likely become an unproductive employee in your organisation. Importance Ange Taina, a mentor for young people believes that when you seek help whether at the workplace or in different areas, it helps promotes unity and collaboration. This, she says is so because, in any given working environment, every individual has their own talents and skills in different domains. She says that what this means is that you just don’t expect everyone to do everything by themselves. So seeking help in different areas means you are learning new things from those who are good at them. “This promotes togetherness and ensures that employees are working toward achieving one goal, thus improving productivity in general,” she says. Speaking of productivity, Thaina says if you ask your coworkers for help, it shows them that you recognize your weakness and challenges, which increases stronger workflow within your organization. Eric Niyitanga, author and CEO of Genius Africa and mentor for young people says seeking help is one way of creating opportunities for others to learn and at the same time share their talents, thus encouraging them to shine in whatever they are doing. He says that by allowing other people to shine when you ask them for help, by doing so, you’re admitting that you at times can be in the wrong and you stand to be corrected at any given time. Niyitanga adds that besides that, one is also able to relate to others and at the same time allow you to grow, thus advancing your career. “You will also learn and develop because you are discovering new things that previously you didn’t know, and after getting to know them, you might find that some were among the reasons you were not moving progressively,” he says. Also, when you ask your colleague for help, you are stepping into unknown territory, and are well on your way to learning something new and developing your skills or broadening your knowledge. So, studies reveal that any discomfort you might experience when asking for help is a small price to pay for an opportunity to develop and learn, as this allows you to embrace challenges and develop in your career.
