3 Important Reasons To Ask For Help In Business

For many women, looking to build a self-sustaining company, small business resources aren’t necessarily high on the priority list. There can also be a disconnect, where asking for help is concerned. After all, I am woman, hear me roar!!! This attitude can render any business helpless and even destroy it. Why do women not ask for help? Answers to this question may vary greatly, however, the results of not seeking out those more experienced can be devastating across the board.

I don’t doubt that there are badass women out there making their mark in the business world. This still does not minimize the fact that most of us need people to reach our goals efficiently and effectively. Here are some good reasons to ask for help in business.

Ask For Help In Business #1: It Forms Good Working Relationships

There is a difference between self-sustaining and completely relying on other people to get you out of a jam. When you don’t know how to complete a certain task, or don’t have the technological know-how, utilizing everything from cloud services, to marketing agencies can accelerate your business. You are not only creating a bridge for your biz to walk into new territory but are developing business relationships with other people and companies. Networking pays off in many ways, including visibility, recruiting, resources, and future business needs.  

Ask For Help In Business #2: Make Better Informed Decisions

Of course, there is something to be said for learning from your mistakes. However, making repeated poor decisions and mistakes could be running our business into the ground. And, rather than asking for help, oftentimes, owners decide to see if they can fix the problem themselves. Truthfully, sometimes we just don’t have the knowledge to fix things. Asking for help is a quality leadership move.

Consider those who have “been there and done that.” They have stories to tell and lessons to teach those who haven’t experienced what they have. There is no shame in listening to them in order to save or propel your business. In fact, I believe everyone should have a mentor and also be a mentor. That means, just as you ask for help, offer your help to others who are coming up behind you in business.

Ask For Help In Business #3: You Increase Your Chances of Survival

No matter how good a product or service is, the stats say that 20% of small businesses fail in their first year. Furthermore, 30% of the remaining fail in their second year. Yikes! The five-year mark is even scarier, at 50% failure. How many of those do you think didn’t ask for help early on? Who’s to say, but I bet it’s a large percentage. Understand that asking for help is not a bad or immature thing to do when it comes to the survival of your business. Just a simple word, encouragement, and resource from someone more experienced or with the right tools could extend the life of your business by years.

Don’t be afraid to get out there and ask for help by taking a course, listening to podcasts, attending conferences, and talking to a business consultant. Yes, all of these things cost money, but it’s your business that is at risk if you don’t make the investment.