One Intuit study found that 41 percent of small business owners feel lonely in their work life. That same survey found that 70 percent of small business owners say networking with other business owners is important.
These challenges can be overcome, and they start with an intentional move on your part. When was the last time you asked for help with your business? While independence, drive and self-motivation are common traits among small business owners, they can also prove to work against you if you’re not careful. Asking for help is a form of self-care both personally and professionally, and it can feel uncomfortable at times. That’s because we know we may need to do it for our own peace of mind, but we also might fear the potential consequences.
When running a business, it’s not uncommon to lose sight of the big picture when we get fixated on our day-to-day problems. When it comes to asking for help, we can get in our own way. Instead of approaching the ask as an opportunity to deepen relationships, we correlate it with being a failure or a burden on others.
That’s not the case, of course. There’s a lot to be gained in reaching out for help when you feel like it’s necessary. Here are a few times when you should consider asking for help:
- When your business is brand new.
- When you’re launching a new product (or just thinking about it).
- When you’re looking for partners.
- When you’re expanding into a new industry.
- When you want to reach new audiences.
Whatever the occasion, consider the ways that asking for help can benefit you and your organization:
1. Tap into the power of experience
Seeking help from an established entrepreneur or subject-matter expert can prove to be a wise move. Regardless of the nature of the business, the foundations of entrepreneurship and best practices in business management are universal. Consulting with someone whom you respect can help you advance using the knowledge gleaned from their experience.
While you might equate asking for help with weakness, think again. It can lead to much more than you might have considered. Growing your network is a byproduct of seeking help. That’s because sometimes the answer is found in consulting with multiple people to see old situations in new lights. The reward here is not necessarily the result but the process itself. Each contact you make can enrich your life and help you get closer to your goals.
2. Learning to listen
The best leaders know that listening is part of the job. Listening is a very important skill when building a business, but few actually do it. Yet the reality is that asking for help hones active listening skills. What’s the point of seeking someone out for advice if you’re not going to absorb it? It’s a waste of both of your time.
On the other hand, intense and active listening demonstrates respect. It also challenges you to see situations from someone else’s vantage point, which can be exactly what we need when we feel stuck. Also recognize that simply listening can help diffuse a tense situation with a customer, employee or vendor.
3. Build someone’s confidence
Here’s something you might not have considered: When you ask for help, you’re able to extend a gift to the giver by instilling confidence in them. There’s tremendous value in asking for help, as it benefits you, your business and the people you interact with. That’s a triple win!
4. Protect your energy
Asking for helping frees up your time and energy to pursue projects or work that fuels you. This is powerful because it allows you to place your focus on what inspired you to start the business in the first place. This can be energizing and help us achieve goals.
You might be wondering what asking for help might look like.
Here are a few actionable ways to do just that:
- Find a mentor
- Ask customers for feedback.
- Engage your friends and family.
- Hire a consultant.
- Look to online communities for advice and feedback.
The bottom line here: Sometimes you have to go against the grain. Asking for help should never be thought of as a sign of weakness or failure. See it as an opportunity to grow! Is there an area of your business where you might benefit from an additional perspective? Ponder this question and don’t be afraid to ask for a lifeline every now and then.
Speaking of asking for help, as a business owner, you are an expert in your domain but perhaps not in payment processing hardware or software. Don’t worry. That’s where we come into the picture. We specialize in connecting merchants with merchant accounts at banks and offer various services, including high-risk merchant accounts. If you have had problems opening a merchant account before, we are here to help. (512) 739-8605