Why is it so hard for us to ask for help? Why do we, as busy moms, think we need to do everything ourselves?
In today’s episode, we talk about help. How do you decide you need help? How do you ask for help? Why do you even need this skill in the first place? All things help, including delegation, outsourcing, and more in today’s topic!
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Episode Details and Show Notes
Hey, hey friend! Welcome to Episode #5 of The Secrets of Supermom Show! Today we are talking about The Secret of Help right from the book. In the book, there are three main parts and the first part encompasses “The Key Secrets”. There are four key secrets, and these are the secret of habits, confidence, morning routines, and today’s topic, help.
Why is it so hard for many of us to ask for help? For most of us, admitting we can’t do it all, getting vulnerable, is terrifying. What does that say about us? Are you a good mom if you can’t do everything? All the other moms seem to be able to do it all, why can’t you? The big secret is that supermoms don’t actually do it all. They either have help or they strategically decide which balls will simply get dropped.
I used to think I had to do it all. I also used to think I did do it all. My husband traveled every week, and it was just me and the kids on our own. Then I realized that, in some areas, I did have help. I had an in-home babysitter for the kids and local family that could trade date nights.
After many years, my husband convinced me that our time was better spent spending time with the kids than mowing the lawn and deep cleaning the house. More help meant more time and more time meant more balance and flexibility.
How to Ask for Help?
When you finally decide, that asking for help is really best for everyone, how do you actually get started? Here are some easy steps to keep in mind:
- Be vulnerable: It is okay to say you can’t do it all.
- Be precise: Ask for exactly what you need.
- Don’t Ask for a Little, Then Take a Lot: Don’t take advantage.
- Don’t Apologize: Asking for help is not something to be sorry about.
What Does it Mean to Delegate?
One way to get more help is to delegate to a team member, a partner, or a child. Depending on the ages of your child, you can certainly start to delegate small tasks to them. When they start, it might require more handholding but as they get older and more independent, you can start handing things off easily.
When planning to delegate a task or a project, keep these things in mind:
- Let Go: You can’t keep full control and save the time you need to do bigger things.
- Use Their Strengths: Choose team members who have the skill you need to allow them to further develop.
- Teach New Skills: Help them develop new skills that you have already perfected.
- Introduce Feedback Loops: Set up a method of checks and balances to ensure quality.
Can You Outsource?
Delegating is assigning a task to someone you lead. Outsourcing is paying someone to complete a task on your behalf, whether in your business or in your home. There are a few things to keep in mind when you decide to outsource:
- Define the Scope: Make sure you are clear on what job is to be done.
- Choose Based on Experience and Cost, Not Just Price: Although cost is an important factor, the cheapest cost is often the cheapest work.
- Sign a Contract: If it isn’t in writing, it never happened.
Asking for Help: One Small Step
What is one small step you can do to ask for help today? Decide one thing, right now, that you will stop doing in the next week. Decide who will do it instead, whether you will ask someone to help you, delegate, or outsource. Get the plan in place and make it happen!
Alright, friends! Send me a DM or put a comment below and tell me where you have decided to get more help. See you next week!
Books and Links from Today’s Episode
(Note: When you click a link, I may receive compensation at no cost to you! I only recommend things I love!)
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