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How to Ask for Advice (Without Looking Dumb)
Do it right, and you’ll feel smarter. Do it wrong, and you’ll look dumb.
“When we ask advice we are usually looking for an accomplice.” — Charles Varlet de La Grange
Asking for advice is not easy.
Are you reluctant to request help at work or home? Do you feel odd or weak for asking people for advice?
You are not alone. Most people think that asking for help is a sign of weakness. They are afraid to look dumb, insecure, or incompetent. As Brené Brown wrote, ”We mistakenly fall prey to the myth that successful people are those that help rather than need, and broken people need rather than help.”
However, recent studies show the opposite.
Most people don’t know how to ask for advice
In a society based on self-help, it seems weird to encourage people to learn how to seek for advice. But hard work, smarts, and drive are not enough. Successful people know how to ask for help.
Asking for advice is not a problem. The difference between looking dumb (or not) lies in how you do it.
