It’s not easy to suffer. It’s even harder to suffer in silence. Asking for help is hard. Maybe you’re embarrassed. Maybe you don’t know who to ask. Maybe you’re just too vulnerable.
As much as we have to take ownership over asking for help it’s also important that others feel empowered to reach out to offer it. It’s important to create an environment or culture that promotes checking in and offering genuine support and for noticing when someone has dropped off the radar.
In my experience silence often means one of two things: either you’re on top of your game and working independently or you’re struggling to get by. It’s important to be aware of both scenarios so that you can empower the independent one to take on new challenges and you can stop a downward spiral before it happens for the second.
When I first joined Amazon the best piece of advice I got from my manager was “don’t suffer in silence.” It laid the foundation for a tight knit team who was always there to have each other backs. Creating a safe space to discuss trials and tribulations without judgement kept us close and made it fun.
Some other things that really help are having a mentor outside your team. Someone who can listen without bias and be your sounding board. It’s also important to know how to advocate for yourself and push for what you need to be successful. There’s no one size that fits all.
If you’re suffering ask for help. But if you’re in a place where that’s too hard make sure you surround yourself with people who have your back so they can reach out to lend support when you aren’t capable of asking for it.
