How to Ask Your Boss for Help With a Problem - The Muse

How to Ask Your Boss for Help With a Problem - The MuseHow to Ask Your Boss for Help With a ProblemThree different times today, youve made your way to your boss door, paused before knocking, and then just decided to turn around altogether. Youve drafted and then promptly deleted five separate emails. You awkwardly loitered behind your manager at the coffee pot, willing yourself to speak up.Why? Well, you have a work-related issue thats been plaguing you all day. And, on top of that, you have another dicke bretter bohren mssen You have no clue how to actually deal with it.You want to approach your teamberater to get her advice on how you should proceed. However, you also dont want to seem like a fumbling idiot whos incapable of handling even the smallest roadblock.All of the career advice youve read taunts you with this one sentiment Come up with a potential solution that you can bring to your boss for approval.That strategy is great- provided you have any clue where to get started. B ut, you? Youre totally lost. You have no idea how to even begin resolving this issue, meaning the idea of coming up with a suggestion on your own is pretty much a pipe dream.So, what do you do? How can you bring this dicke bretter bohren mssen to you boss, without seeming totally helpless and incompetent? Follow these five steps. 1. Determine Your MethodFirst things first, you need to determine how you should approach your manager. Will you send an email or have this conversation in-person?The lure of email can be tempting, especially since it saves you the embarrassment of needing to look your boss in the face as you confess your own perceived stupidity. Fortunately, jotting your supervisor a message can work just fine for any non-urgent matters. Plus, email gives you the opportunity to document any information that your boss might require (mora on that in a minute). But, if this problem youre dealing with is particularly time-pressing or groundbreaking? Much like any other serious conversation, those issues are best handled face-to-face. 2. Gather Your FactsImagine that you strolled into your managers office and nonchalantly said, Hey, boss The building is on fire and I was really hoping you could jump in and put it out.Your manager is bound to have questions. How did this fire get started? Has anybody already tried to put it out? Why is this happening?Just because you cant bring any potential solutions to your supervisor doesnt mean that you can wander into his office without any context. Hell need the necessary hintergrund information in order to better understand the situation and help you identify the best way forward.Before initiating the conversation, take some time to think through the entirety of your problemWhat conversations or circumstances led you to this point?Did you make any mistakes that exacerbated this issue?Are there any other players involved that your manager should be aware of?Is there any documentation your boss will need to get a bett er understanding of the whole picture?Coming armed and ready with all of this information in place will show that you arent just aiming for an easy way out of your sticky situation. You may not have the answer- but at least you took the time to gather the facts. 3. Explain the Potential FalloutTheres a reason that youre going to your boss with this problem- not only because you dont have the solution, but also because you know that making the wrong move could have some serious consequences.You need to make that potential fallout explicitly clear. What makes this problem worthy of his time and attention? Is a client really angry? Is the companys reputation at risk? More often than not, managers prefer to get involved before stuff really hits the fan. So, your own supervisor will likely be happy that you brought the issue to him before things turned into even a bigger mess.4. Resist the Urge to Apologizenotlage having the answer can be a blow to your ego. But, cut yourself some slack and remind yourself of the fact that- whether youre new or well-established in your position- youre not supposed to know everything. Its for that very reason that you have a boss to guide and advise you when these sorts of things come up.As embarrassed as you might feel, dont fall into the trap of repeatedly apologizing for what you assume to be your own ignorance. Instead, be matter-of-fact about the help that you need and express gratitude for your managers insights.What does that look like? Instead of sayingIm really sorry that I need to bother you with this. I just dont know what to do.Try something like thisId really appreciate your help in figuring out the best way to respond to this client.5. Take NotesNot knowing how to resolve something once is totally understandable and forgivable. But, if you continue to repeatedly approach your boss with that exact same issue, youre bound to begin fostering that helpless reputation youre so desperately trying to avoid.When your manager d oes walk you through how to solve the problem thats on your plate, make sure you document it. Create yourself a little cheat sheet where you can record the answers to questions and issues you might see crop up again. That way, if you encounter that issue in the future, youll be able to take a little more initiative on your own. Needing to approach your boss with a problem can definitely poke holes in your confidence- and, even more so when you dont have any ideas for how to address that setback yourself.However, it happens. You dont have all of the answers, and every now and then youll need to lean on your managers experience and wisdom to get you through some sticky situations.So, take a deep breath, follow these five steps, and finally knock on your boss door. Im willing to bet youll be pleasantly surprised by how that conversation plays out.