Asking for Help Is Not a Sign of Weak Leadership

Asking for Help Is Not a Sign of Weak Leadership

By Alan Olsen

Can leaders be strong and humble at the same time? Is it possible for a leader to command respect if he or she has to ask for help? For many years, asking for help was considered a sign of weakness. Leaders were expected to know everything and be capable of doing anything. If a leader had to ask for help, then most likely he or she wasn’t really able to lead. However, the world has changed and leadership is not viewed the same way it used to be. Organizations, leaders,and employees alike all recognize that the accepted standards for “good leadership” have changed.

Leaders Are Human,Too

No longer do leaders have to be super human. It’s okay to fail. It’s okay to not have all the answers. It’s okay to need help and ask for it. Good leaders know that asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of strength. In fact, when leaders can’t admit and accept their weaknesses, that lack of humility actually becomes an obstacle, which hinders progress and success. If a leader thinks he or she can do something that they actually can’t, they end up hurting the organization much more. That’s why having humility in leadership is so important.

Humility Is the Key

When leaders are not humble enough to accept their weaknesses, they will not be able to connect with those they lead. Connecting with employees is huge in the current business world. If employees don’t feel engaged and connected to their leaders they’ll have a much harder time respecting or following them. Obviously, this is not a successful environment for anyone and no one will succeed. Therefore it’s important for all leaders to accept their weaknesses. Weaknesses do not make you weak. They make you human.

Accepting Weaknesses Helps Build Strengths

By learning to ask others for help, leaders can grow and learn like everyone else. When leaders ask for help they become more relatable. They demonstrate that they don’t think they’re better than their employees. When leaders share their vulnerabilities and ask for help to overcome them, they can gain new perspective. This allows them to grow and develop new strengths. And that helps them become better leaders, which in turn, helps the organizations they work for.

It’s Okay to Ask for help

If you want to become a better leader, you need to start by showing humility. Accept that fact that you are human and that you have weaknesses that go along with your strengths. When you don’t know the answer to something ask someone who might. When you’re not sure how to do something seek advice. When you need help, ask for it. Every leader needs helps from time to time. Those who are humble enough to ask for help are more likely to be good leaders. Those who are afraid to ask for assistance will only hurt themselves more and the companies they work for.