Table Pancakes

The Art of Asking for Help: Support, Outsourcing, and Collaboration


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In this episode of Table Pancakes, Katherine and Shelbi explore the places where we do (or need to) ask for help—from friendships and family to career and creative projects. They discuss how stepping away from self-sufficiency can create more space for connection, collaboration, and focusing on what truly matters.


What We Cover:Miss Independent Phones a Friend
  • Why shedding the Miss Independent mindset can create more opportunities for support
  • How others’ perceptions of self-sufficiency can impact the help we receive
  • The undefined expectations in friendships and how they shape support systems (referencing Cleo Wade’s Remember Love and Danielle Bayard Jackson’s TikTok on friendship dynamics*)*
  • Communication strategies between friends can influence the help we receive in everyday life and during challenging moments
Time to Send in the Experts
  • Recognizing when to ask for help by assessing capacity, curiosity, and skillset.
  • The power of peer mentors and coaches as a form of collaborative problem-solving
  • Outsourcing as a learned skill—it often comes at a cost but leads to better outcomes
Calling All Good Samaritans
  • The teamwork behind creative projects, from personal endeavors to Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour, and the many players who bring a vision to life
  • People are often willing to help strangers, even if they are not always warm
  • Managing help can be challenging—delegating can add emotional and logistical weight to leadership
  • Navigating the tension between people-first leadership and corporate demands—and why honest communication, while risky, can elevate everyone involved

Question of the Week:

What areas of your life could you use more help to pursue what you want and need?


Join the Conversation

Email us: [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram: @tablepancakespod

Connect with us: @shelbihq | @katherinehfoster


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Table PancakesBy Katherine Foster and Shelbi Jones