Reaching Out To Others For The Betterment Of All
Do you ask others for help? What do you think/feel when you do?
Some of us might think that help is another 4-letter word. Notice the way we may worry and wring our hands over the thought of having to reach out to others for assistance or support. To think about uttering that word can trigger chills and fear!
In reality, help is one of the most important words in interactions with others. It is essential in all areas of connection, communication and conversation.
For us, the skill, ability and self-assurance that knowing, respecting and acting on our needs and ability to ask for help is integral to our conversational program, Revolutionary Conversations™. Developed over 35 years ago following our listening communications courses at UCLA Extension, the program has proved itself invaluable and highly productive for thousands of students and clients. Availing ourselves respectfully of the simple act of including help in our conversations and in our everyday lives can be constructively powerful, though in the beginning it may take a moment to appreciate how significant it can be.
Once we can let go of “I know” and “I have the answer” then purposely align ourselves with learning and personal growth, help begins to make more sense. The more we use it, the more powerful it becomes and the more compassionate we can become as well. When we know how much we could use the assistance, just think of all the rest of us that do as well. For a deeper look at “I know”, refer to another of our articles on Medium: “Is Your Knowledge Holding You Back? Rethinking the I Know Mentality.”
In the early days of Revolutionary Conversations™, we discovered serious challenges working with our students to appreciate how appropriate and effective asking for help can be. Today, we are seeing more and more references and content (articles, videos, stories) about the power of help — so refreshing and uplifting. Recently, we noticed an article from Pocket Worthy: “The Biggest Wastes of Time We Regret When We Get Older”: First on the list? “Not Asking for Help”!
We recently produced blog articles on help—please see “Why Don’t People Ask for Help?” That little 4-letter word (help) is beginning to be a stronger part of the world. We hope it grows and grows in popularity.
In an effort to reach out about the benefits of help, a new article on Thrive Global has done a great job of assisting in knowing more about how asking for help is essential: Asking for Help Can Be Challenging. Here Are 4 Tips to Guide You.
We believe that we can’t get enough reinforcement on how help is a lifesaver and a foundation for a more successful life.
A major benefit of asking for help is to open our minds to the contributions of others. First, choose to focus on seeking to find out what happened or what is happening, not immediately reaching for those solution(s) we have lined up in the back of our minds. Seek to understand — “Please help me understand?” — is respectful, helpful, peacemaking. This can pay dividends in the current conversation as well as future connections. It can also help you be a more effective collaborator—helping yourself and others to be more successful together.
Asking for help, requesting assistance, seeking clarification, being open to new ideas, thoughts, different opinions and varying perspectives can give us and others so much more — than if we tough it out while trying to look smart, clever, all-knowing. If we tough it out, it’s like holding our breath, waiting for something to change. Instead, be that change by asking for assistance.
Among the many benefits of HELP:
- Help opens our minds and the minds of others to possibilities that could never occur without at least one of us being brave enough to ask for help.
- Help assists in creating collaboration by bringing others constructively to the conversation, project, task or situation — supporting everyone being engaged.
- Help contributes to creating a peaceful situation, relationship or environment. This integral component indicates you need others; needing and appreciating others do mean a great deal for success.
- Help kickstarts the learning perspective. Being open to help in all venues reinforces the necessity to be always learning, always questing for more information for the betterment of the situation and yourself as well.
Want to be a better communicator, conversationalist and a powerful influencer in the betterment of situations, challenges and collaborative efforts? To discover more about how help can be your trusted ally — please reach out to our award-winning book: “Revolutionary Conversation: The Tools You Need for the Success You Want”. As it has for many others, this book (and using the word help, along with the other Tools) can transform your life! Check out this book review that will tell you more.
Do let us know what you experience in your next conversations as you incorporate the concept of help. You may be surprised…
Copyright © 2020 Revolutionary Conversations, LLC. All Rights Reserved
ABOUT MARK H. FOWLER
Mark H. Fowler, President of Stowe Management Corporation and Founder/Co-CEO of Revolutionary Conversations, LLC, is a business growth and business re-engineering expert, author and writer, business educator, public speaker and change leader. Mr. Fowler specializes in transitioning businesses from challenge to achievement to attain new levels of success: focused on enhancing revenues and profits, while instituting cultural and interactive processes that substantially increase collaboration and engagement. As a member of AICPA and California CPA Society, he has served in several leadership roles. He is a Co-Founder of the Rotary E-Club of World Peace.
A leader in the “business engagement” field for decades, he has developed systems and communication protocols, stressing the importance of team empowerment and personal development. With his emphasis on engagement, he created and designed a conversation system called the S.H.A.R.E.™ Tools, which are the basis of the award-winning book Revolutionary Conversations: The Tools You Need for the Success You Want. The S.H.A.R.E.™ Tools are an essential ingredient for success in working with all forms of challenges and impediments, while always focusing on the value and well-being of all. Helping business owners/executives/leaders/managers and team members in a revolutionary, transformational way to be on the same page to move forward together, he has aided their success with incredible achievements that were unattainable in their former reality.