How to Tell the Boss that You Need Help
Help. It’s such a simple word, but it’s one of the most difficult to say. We hate asking for help, whether it is because we don’t want to admit that we don’t know or can’t do something or because we fear that it reflects badly. Usually, the call to hire a consultant comes from a senior executive, but, occasionally, it may fall upon a project manager to wave the white flag. In that case, how do you convince the boss that you need a consultant?
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The ship’s in trouble, and you’re the one who is supposed to be steering it. What do you do?
- Move it up the chain. Follow your organization’s escalation process; you may move it up to the steering committee or to your executive.
- Admit that you have a problem. Be direct: “We are not hitting our targets. We’re falling behind.” Clearly define the problem.
- Once the problem is laid out, explain why help is necessary. You might say something like, “To get this done, we need someone with experience in X” or “We need someone who has skillset Y.” You may not possess the experience or skill set, through no fault of your own, but you recognize that you need to bring in someone who does.
- Provide a solution. A consultant can help crystallize the problem and help find a solution, and he/she can do this, in many cases, more effectively than someone on the inside by virtue of being uninvolved with office politics or corporate tradition. (no vested interest in the status quo or a specific course of action).
- Explain how a consultant will benefit not just this project, but the organization as a whole. For instance, most businesses try to bury problems until it is too late. There is a “Don’t bring me problems, bring me solutions” corporate mindset. A consultant can help reverse a project before it becomes a tremendous drain on resources. Another benefit is that you are going to be mentored and helped so you acquire the skills as you work with the consultant. Next time, you can apply these to a project from the outset.
A mark of a real leader is knowing when you need help and being able to say, “I don’t know. I know what I don’t know. Here’s how we can find out.” You are bringing solutions, not problems; it’s just that you might have to go outside for those solutions.
