Think about the last time you needed help but hesitated to ask for it.
Making it easier to ask for help is one of the simplest ways leaders can support the people around them.
Sometimes people stay quiet because they don’t want to appear inexperienced. Others worry their questions will be dismissed or that they’re interrupting someone who’s already busy.
As a result, a small problem becomes a bigger one.
Leaders often say their doors are always open. But what matters is how people feel when they actually walk through them.
Do you listen without immediately criticizing? Do you welcome questions? Do you make people feel comfortable admitting they don’t know something?
Those small interactions create an environment where people can learn without pretending to have every answer.
The next time someone comes to you with a question, remember that your response can influence whether they feel comfortable asking another one.
Sometimes helping people succeed begins by making it easier for them to speak up.
The Simplifier’s Take
The way you respond to questions determines whether people feel comfortable asking them.
Telling people your door is open means very little if they don’t feel comfortable walking through it. Make it easier for people to ask for help.
– Orlando Espinosa | The Simplifier of Information®