Sometimes we make things too hard.
People like me who write about leadership and teams and organizational issues try to build models and all sorts of things to help people and teams achieve more. It doesn’t have to be as complicated or difficult as we sometimes make it, and it always starts with you.
People that have a heart to help don’t need a reason, they pay attention, get outside of themselves and their self-interest, and decide to help.
If you want to build relationships, build a team, and get better results, perhaps the best place to start is by being more helpful to others. Here is how to do that:
Be observant. It is heard to help if you don’t notice where help is needed. Listen and observe others, pay attention to your surroundings and you will see opportunities to help.
Be externally focused. Selfish people aren’t helpful, they are thinking of themselves. To be more helpful be thinking about the needs of others.
Be mission focused. If you know what the goals are for the project or the team, you will have a better idea of when you can help and what needs to be done.
Be willing to offer. Knowing and observing is one thing, asking “how can I help?” sets the wheels in motion. And even if the other party doesn’t need help at that moment, the offer alone will be noticed and appreciated.
Be humble. Having a heart to help is about service to others and something beyond yourself. Helping with the goal of being noticed or recognized isn’t the help that creates the positive outcomes we are talking about.
Help. Just help. If you see something you can do, do it. Maybe you ask, or maybe you see something you can do, and just do it. Having a heart to help is good, but intention matters far less than action.
When you do these things you will be helpful, and your actions will be noticed and will be contagious. Want a more cohesive team? Start by setting an example of being helpful to others.
Remarkable Principle: Having a heart to help is one way to build better relationships and get more done.
Your Now Steps
- Think about the most helpful people you know.
- Observe them and see what you can learn.
- Decide what you will do to be more helpful in more situations.
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