Help isn't admission of defeat

The H Word
Those Americans that have jobs are working harder and longer hour than ever before. Studies have shown that now Americans have surpassed the Japanese for most hours worked. Maybe, this is a little something you have noticed in your own life. If you are looking for a job, you could probably benefit from some help.

Help isn't admission of defeat, but actually it is an invitation to contribute. Often, you will discover the person that you asked for help feels tremendously grateful about the experience. Scientists have discovered that there is a phenomenon called "Helper's High" the boost that people feel when they are helping others. Both the person asking for help and the person delivering that help are sharing a valuable gift with one another.

Inviting others input (which is a great way to ask for help at work) is incredibly productive. Two noggins are in fact smarter than one. Recently, I was giving a speech at a large insurance carrier. An audience member raised her hand with a mammoth problem. She had no solution in sight. Once I opened up the floor for a brainstorming session, she got a flood of input from other members of the audience. Within minutes of asking for help, she had superb solutions and next step actions to a problem that seemed impossible when she tried to tackle it alone.

Ask someone in your life for help- with the dishes, on a detail of a project.
Ask to help someone in your life- pick up groceries for an elderly neighbor, baby sit for a friend and see how terrific you feel.