How To Ask Coworker For Help In 7 Steps

What’s the best way to ask a coworker for help? It depends on what kind of help you need and how well you know the person. So let’s learn how to ask coworker for help.

If it’s a small favor, simply asking is usually sufficient. For instance, needing someone to cover your phone while you step away from your desk

7 Steps To Ask Coworker For Help

For bigger requests, it’s important to be more mindful about how you ask. No one wants to feel like they’re being taken advantage of.

So be sure to explain why you’re asking for help. Also, tell them what, if anything, you’re willing to do in return.

Now let’s discuss steps to ask for help from a coworker:

1. Determine What Kind Of Help You Need:

Do you need help with a work task? Or do you need emotional support?

The way you ask for help will differ depending on what kind of help you need.

Therefore, it’s important to be clear about what kind of help you need before approaching your coworker.

Some coworkers will be happy to help with anything. But others may only feel comfortable helping with certain tasks.

Moreover, some people may not feel comfortable helping with emotional support.

So be clear and considerate about what kind of help you need before asking for it.

2. Consider Your Relationship With The Coworker:

How well do you know the person? Are they a close friend or more of an acquaintance?

Your relationship with the coworker will affect how you ask for help.

For example, you may feel more comfortable asking a close friend for help. But you won’t with someone you don’t know very well.

On the other hand, some people may feel more comfortable helping a coworker they know very well. So it really varies from person to person.

If you’re not sure, err on the side of caution. It’s better to be too formal than too informal when asking for help.

3. Choose The Right Time And Place:

You don’t want to interrupt your coworker while they’re working on something important.

And you definitely don’t want to ask for help when they’re already busy with something else.

So choose a time when your coworker isn’t busy and they can give you their full attention.

It’s also important to choose the right place to ask for help. For example, you may want to ask in private if it’s a sensitive issue.

On the other hand, if it’s a simple favor, you can probably ask anywhere.

But if you’re not sure, it’s always best to ask in private.

4. Be Specific About What You Need:

When you ask for help, be specific about what you need. This way, your coworker can give you the best possible help.

For example, you need help with a work task. Tell them what the task is and how they can help you.

If you need emotional support, tell them what’s going on and how they can help you.

5. Be Willing To Return The Favor:

No one wants to feel like they’re being taken advantage of. So if you ask for help, be willing to return the favor.

This doesn’t mean that you have to do something for them right away.

But let them know that you’re willing to help them out in the future if they need it.

This shows that you’re considerate and that you value their help.

Some ways to return the favor include:

– Offering to help them with a task in the future

– Buying them lunch

– Doing something nice for them

6. Be Gracious:

Even if your coworker can’t or doesn’t want to help you, be gracious. Thank them for their time and move on.

There’s no need to get upset or make a big deal out of it.

Just remember that not everyone is able or willing to help. And that’s okay.

However, after your coworker has helped you, be sure to say thank you. This shows that you appreciate their help.

And it may make them more likely to help you again in the future.

7. Ask For Help From Multiple Coworkers:

If your first choice for help says no, don’t give up. There are plenty of other people who may be willing and able to help you.

You may not get the help you need from just one person. So don’t be afraid to ask for help from multiple coworkers.

So ask someone else for help. Chances are, you’ll find someone who’s willing and able to help you out.

So here you go. These are some tips for asking coworker for help. Now let’s share some examples with you of what to say.

Sample Scripts For Asking Coworker For Help

We have some sample scripts for asking coworker for help. Feel free to use these or adapt them to your own needs.

1 “Hi, ____. I’m sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if I could ask for your help with something.

2 I know you’re busy, so I’ll only take a few minutes of your time. Would that be okay?”

3 “Hey, ____. Do you have a minute? I need some help with something and was wondering if you could lend a hand.”

4 “Hi, ____. Can I talk to you for a quick minute? I need some help with something and was wondering if you could help me out.

5 “Hi ____. I was wondering if I could ask for your help with something.

6 “Hi, ____. Thanks for taking the time to talk to me. I was wondering if I could ask for your help with something.

7 “Hey, ____. Thanks for taking the time to talk to me. I need some help with something and was wondering if you could lend a hand.”

8 “Hi, ____. Can I ask for your help with something?

9 “Hey, ____. Would you be able to help me with something?

10 “Hi, ____. I need some help with something. Would you be able to help me out?”

These are just some examples of what you can say when asking for help from a coworker. Again, feel free to adapt these to your own needs.

What To Avoid When Asking For Help

There are a few things you’ll want to avoid when asking for help from a coworker. These include:

1. Asking For Too Much:

Don’t ask for more help than you need. Be specific about what you need.

Don’t try to take advantage of your coworker’s goodwill. If you do, they may be less likely to help you in the future.

And if you’re asking for help with a task that’s too big, your coworker may not be able to help you.

So be realistic about what you’re asking for.

2. Being Demanding:

Don’t be demanding when you ask for help. Remember, your coworker is not obligated to help you.

So don’t demand that they help you. This will only make them less likely to want to help you.

When you ask for help, be polite and humble. This will make it more likely that your coworker will want to help you.

3. Making It All About You:

When you ask for help, remember to focus on the other person. This means making it about them and not about you.

For example, don’t say “I need your help.” Say “Can I ask for your help with something?”

This change in perspective can make a big difference in how your coworker perceives your request.

4. Being Vague:

When you ask for help, be specific about what you need. This way, your coworker will know exactly what they need to do to help you.

Don’t be vague when you ask for help. For example, don’t say “Can you help me with this project?”

Say “Can you help me with the data entry for this project?”

This way, your coworker will know exactly what you need help with.

5. Not Saying Thank You:

Always say thank you after your coworker has helped you. This shows them that you appreciate their help.

And it may make them more likely to help you in the future. Saying thank you is a simple way to show your appreciation.

6. Asking For Help Too Often:

Don’t ask for help too often. If you do, your coworker may start to feel like you’re taking advantage of them.

Only ask for help when you really need it. Otherwise, you may start to wear out your welcome.

So only ask for help when it’s absolutely necessary.

7. Not Returning The Favor:

If your coworker has helped you in the past, return the favor when they need help. This shows them that you are a team player.

So if someone has helped you in the past, be sure to return the favor when they need help.

8. Not Following Through:

If you’ve asked for help from your coworker, be sure to follow through on your end. This means doing what you said you would do.

For example, if you asked for help with a project, be sure to finish your part of the project.

If you don’t follow through, your coworker may not want to help you in the future.

Don’t Refuse Help:

If someone offers to help you, be sure to accept their help. Don’t turn it down just because you think you can do it on your own.

Remember, there’s no shame in accepting help from others. In fact, it shows that you are willing to work as part of a team.

So if someone offers to help you, be sure to accept their help.

These are just a few things to avoid when asking for help from a coworker. Remember, the goal is to make it easy for them to say yes.

What Type Of Help Can You Ask For?

Let’s take a look at some specific examples of the types of help you can ask for from a coworker.

1. Asking For Advice:

One type of help you can ask for is advice. For example, you might say “Can I ask for your advice on something?”

This is a great way to get input from someone who has more experience than you.

It’s also a good way to build relationships with your coworkers.

2. Asking For Feedback:

Another type of help you can ask for is feedback. For example, you might say “Can I get your feedback on this project?”

This is a great way to get input from someone who can give you an objective opinion.

3. Asking For A Favor:

When you ask for a favor, you are asking someone to do something for you. For example, you might say “Can you do me a favor?”

You can ask for:

– Borrowing something

– Someone to cover for you

– Someone to do a task for you

Favor can be a great way to get help from your coworkers. But be sure to only ask for favors when it’s absolutely necessary.

4. Help With A Project:

You can ask for is help with a project. For example, you might say “Can you help me with this project?”

This is a great way to get help from someone who has the skills and knowledge that you need.

5. Help With A Problem:

If you have a problem at work, you can ask for help from your coworkers. For example, you might say “I’m having a problem with X. Can you help me?”

They can offer a fresh perspective and help you find a solution to your problem.

These are just a few examples of the types of help you can ask for from your coworkers.

Conclusion:

Asking for help from your coworkers can be a great way to get the assistance you need. You should :

– Make it easy for them to say yes

– Say thank you

– Return the favor

– Follow through

– Accept help when it’s offered

In the end, asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. So don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

Last Updated on 9 months by Shahzaib Arshad