Working Wounded: Asking For Help At Work

Aug. 31, 2007 — -- Dear WOUNDED: : There are some really smart people at my workplace. But I'm nervous about asking for their advice, because I think that this will reflect poorly on me.

I saw an interview recently with the National Basketball Association's only free throw shooting coach, Gary Boren. Despite the fact that so many games are decided by free throws, only the Dallas Mavericks have a coach exclusively focused on them. One advocate for Boren is Maverick's point guard Jason Terry, who learned a valuable lesson after Boren analyzed his free-throw shooting.

Boren noticed that Terry would high-five teammates before he finished the follow through on his shot. Acting on that observation, Terry found that when he focused more on his shot and less on the high five, his shooting percentage shot up.

Like Terry, most of us would be better off if we put ourselves in a position to receive more support from our coworkers. I've included three do's and one don't below focusing on how to get more high-fives where you work. For more, check out Joseph Folkman's book, "The Power of Feedback" (Wiley, 2006).

DO believe that people care. Sure there are combative workplaces out there where people are constantly at each other's throats, but they are the exception rather than the rule. Most people want to get along. So it's better to start from the position that people care about you than to cynically isolate yourself from your coworkers. Give most people a chance to help you and chances are that two-thirds, or more, will come through with flying colors.

DO believe people have something to offer. I wish I had a buck for every time someone wrote or told me that they work with a bunch of know-nothing jerks. I won't argue the jerk part, but I believe that most people at work do know a thing or two that could help your efforts.

Your coworkers probably have a few tricks for getting along with the boss, how to work company policies to your advantage and even advice on how to do your job more effectively. But you won't learn these tricks of the trade until you open up a channel of communication with them.

DO practice random acts of kindness. Actively look for opportunities to help your coworkers, not to lecture them, but to offer them real solutions to the problems they are facing. Sure, there will be a few who won't reciprocate, but they tend to be the exception and not the rule.

Regular readers of this column know that I hate to ask a favor of someone that I haven't already done a favor for. This takes time and energy, but I can't begin to tell you how many times such acts of kindness have paid off down the road.

DON'T assume asking for help shows weakness. I actually believe the opposite -- not asking for help at work can be career threatening.

Follow these tips and your coworkers should be willing to throw some help your way, help that will likely make you more effective.

"I am not young enough to know everything." -- James Matthew Barrie

How are you doing? … Employees talk about loyalty and appreciation

• A majority of employees polled -- 56 percent -- said they feel very appreciated or appreciated by their employer
• Workers' loyalty remains strong with 75 percent stating that they are at least somewhat loyal to their employer
• Only 13 percent said their company is very loyal to them and 16 percent said their company is not at all loyal to them
• Twenty-one percent of Silent's, the oldest generation of workers (aged 61 or older), claimed that their company is not at all loyal to them; only 13 percent of Generation "X" agrees.

From: Adeco

Bob Rosner is a best-selling author, speaker and internationally syndicated columnist. He'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic, especially if you have better ideas than he does. His books include "The Boss's Survival Guide" and "Gray Matters: The Work place Survival Guide." Send your questions or comments to him via: bob@workingwounded.com.

ABCNEWS.com publishes a new Working Wounded column every Friday.This work is the opinion of the columnist and in no way reflects the opinion of ABC News.