The Fear of Asking for Help

Have you ever had that feeling of “Not Fitting In”?  You know, when you are sitting in class and you try not to have eye contact with the teacher so she picks someone else to answer a question. Some of us know that feeling all too well.  How about being in a social setting and shying away from commenting because of the lack of comfort with the subject matter?

Have you ever let an opportunity pass you by at work because of the fear of learning something new or the fear of asking for help? Just imagine going through life not wanting to make eye contact, sharing your opinion, or letting opportunities pass you by just because asking for help feels embarrassing, weak or triggers fear-based emotions.

If this resonates with you, you may suffer from FOAFH: Fear of Asking for Help. OnPoint Leadership says this is a common condition and we know from experience that this happens all too often.
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In a recent Facebook post, we shared five things that could make you feel more comfortable asking for help if you live with FOAFH; read on to learn more.

CHANGE THE WAY YOU DEFINE ‘ASKING FOR HELP’ AND WATCH YOUR WHOLE PERSPECTIVE CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.

When reaching out for help, what if instead of saying “Can you help me with…?” You said:

• “I am collecting input on something related to literacy.”
• “I would like to clarify a, b and c.”
• “I am looking to collaborate to improve x, y, z.”
• “I would like to confirm that …”
• “I am exploring different options and would like to see if Laubach Literacy NB is the right fit.”

 
Try these statements on for size right now, just to see how they make you feel.

• Do they provide a whole new perspective about “Asking for Help”?
• Can you feel your body language change?
• What about your confidence level, do you feel it improve?
• Would you be able to choose one statement and make a call today?
  
  

No matter what challenges you are facing and whether they are about Reading, Writing, Numbers, Technology related or something else altogether, it is absolutely ok to ask for help.  

As adults, we like to have control over our lives, we are hardwired to want to be independent. We don’t want to be perceived as being needy, come across as incompetent or let others see how ashamed we might be.

Regardless of how you ask for help, at Laubach Literacy NB, our response is always – Sure, we can help you with that. It’s not just our mandate to do so, but our greatest joy to help.

You will find our phone lines are always open, and when you are ready, we will be there.