Entrepreneurs are go-getters by nature. They won’t stop until they achieve what they want, and they’re willing to make risky moves in pursuit of their entrepreneurial goals. Sometimes, they even put themselves on the line in an attempt to make it big. But while passion and tenacity are admirable traits, entrepreneurs also have the tendency to become overly self-reliant, refusing to seek assistance from others when they’re in a sticky situation.
Being independent is one thing, but trying to take on everything yourself will only lead to stress and burnout. You may think that asking for help demonstrates weakness, but by trying to do everything and making every decision by yourself, you’re risking putting yourself in a vulnerable position, potentially costing you the business you’re working so hard to grow.
It’s important to keep in mind that asking for help shouldn’t be seen as a sign of weakness. While it’s understandable that you’d want to be viewed as stable, self-sustaining, and competent, asking for assistance when delegating tasks can help you grow your business a lot faster.
Why it’s important to ask for help
Creator of Emotional Mastery, Joan I. Rosenberg Ph.D. notes that humans are social beings, yet individualistic cultures make us believe that relying on others and asking for their help is a burden and makes you emotionally weak. But we all need to acknowledge that we need both independence and dependence, and not one or the other. In order for us to pursue our goals, it must also be balanced with our need to be with others.
Being capable is necessary to develop resilience and confidence, but we should also accept that it’s sometimes necessary to be dependent on others, especially during moments when we have to tackle downturns. It may feel uncomfortable at first, but when you lean on your friends and family during troubling times, not only will you become more centered and calmer, but you’ll also let other people really know you. Achieving things on your own is a feat in and of itself, sure, but you must also have to possess the courage to ask for help when needed so you can go after the dreams and goals you have set for yourself.
When to ask for help
Business owners need to learn how to take a pause from time to time. So remind yourself that you don’t always have to be a productivity machine. While you prefer to work every minute of every day to achieve your goals faster, it’s crucial to stop and take a breather and remember that what you’re doing most likely isn’t a matter of life and death and will still be waiting for you the next day.
Suzanne Rohan Jones is a career counselor and associate instructor on the online psychology program at Maryville University. In her interview with Thrive Global on managing anxiety, she points out that you should master the concept of a work-life balance, and find out what activities cause negative stress and burnout. When you find that you’re starting to feel stressed and anxious, you should pause and identify what’s triggering it so you can take the necessary measures to avoid them.
Jones also notes that it’s important to set realistic expectations for the amount of time needed to successfully accomplish work activities when also juggling personal commitments. You may feel compelled to say yes to all familial commitments and new projects and requests from colleagues and clients so you can wow them, but wowing people is impossible if you don’t know how to say no.
How to get help
It’s important for entrepreneurs to realize that you can’t do it all. You’re only one person and there’s only so much time you and energy you can expend. Know your limits and learn how to say no to anything beyond your reach. You’ll be able to feel more in control and less anxious, and even have a better time making decisions when you know how to hit the pause button.
You can always start by delegating your tasks; ideally, to an assistant you can trust. If you can’t afford an actual assistant just yet, you always have the option to hire a virtual assistant who can tackle low priority tasks. As previously mentioned by Marcel Petitpas, having a virtual assistant on board is a great first step to scaling your business, especially when you’re just starting out and trying to scale your venture. When you’ve learned how to delegate, you’ll be able to focus on the most important parts of your business while also empowering the people you assign to take charge of projects you hand over to them.
This article was specially written for Outsource School by Rosie Jas
About the Author
Rosie Jas is interested in all things entrepreneurial. She enjoys learning about the ins and outs of starting businesses and why some startups fail. She loves to bake and tend to her indoor garden.
