The fastest way to sound incompetent is to drop a raw, unstructured problem onto a colleague's desk and expect them to solve it (Photo: iStock)
In competitive workplaces, many professionals would rather struggle in silence than risk looking incompetent by asking for help.
But staying stuck doesn't make you look capable; it creates bottlenecks that can derail projects. The most successful leaders don't have all the answers; they simply know how to ask for help strategically.
Come with something
The fastest way to sound incompetent is to drop a raw, unstructured problem onto a colleague's desk and expect them to solve it. Before scheduling a conversation or sending a message to a senior colleague, ensure that you have done at least 70 per cent of the heavy lifting.
