You’ve probably had a thought (or many thoughts) that has stopped you from asking for help.

Maybe it was, "I don’t want to bother people."

Or, "Everybody is busy, too."

Or, "I should be able to handle this myself."

Or, "I don’t want to make someone feel guilty if they have to say no."

You can see how those beliefs might stop you in your tracks, right?

You might even think to yourself, "Why would someone want to help me, especially if it doesn’t benefit them?"

Knowing how to extend a helping hand or ask for assistance when needed is one of the best ways to build trusting, collaborative and mutually beneficial relationships with colleagues, clients, family and friends. And yet, for far too many folks, “help fluency” remains elusive.

Deborah Grayson Riegel teaches concrete strategies to help others get better at offering, asking for and accepting help — and explores the ways in which “help fluency” builds better relationships both professionally and personally.

We discuss how to change our mindsets and behaviors from avoiding asking for help to leaning into it and asking without fear or guilt.