I have been a strong believer in this one method of finding answers. Whenever I'm stuck with a question and I'm not able to find an answer even after spending some time on it, I catch hold of someone with a better understanding and talk it out with that person.
The question could be personal, professional, religion, life, anything.
The best part is that when I'm having such discussions, I quite often end up finding the answer myself. The solution need not come from the other person, but while I explain the question, I see things differently. This seeing differently often allows to see an answer which was not there earlier.
This does not mean one should become totally dependent on others and go running to others for help every time one has a problem. That will only stop one's growth.
When I'm using MS Excel and I need a formula, I won't go running to my boss or colleagues immediately. I will try to find the answer myself, read the help file, search online, come with atleast one possible answer.
And then, after putting in reasonable time and effort, if I'm not happy with the solution, I'll go and run through the solution with my boss or some colleague.
On the other hand, I can't spend a week trying to find an answer. That just might be too late.
If I'm cooking and not sure about how much salt to add, I can't keep thinking for 20 minutes on how much salt to add, if I wait too long, I'll end up with coal flavoured food. I just call my mom and check with her.
There has to be a balance which I need to maintain and it depends on the urgency of the question.
The normal rule I follow in my professional and personal life is that if I'm not able to find an answer and I'm stuck in a single place for more than 10 minutes, I should consider asking for help.
It doesn't have to be the complete answer, just a guidance, a line of thought, an idea is all that's needed. Most of us are able to pick from there.
So many times it happens that we spend a considerable amount of time on a problem, go ask someone, and it turns out that it was a very small issue which could have been resolved in 2 minutes max.
Whenever you find yourself in that place, all you need to do is Just Ask...
The question could be personal, professional, religion, life, anything.
The best part is that when I'm having such discussions, I quite often end up finding the answer myself. The solution need not come from the other person, but while I explain the question, I see things differently. This seeing differently often allows to see an answer which was not there earlier.
This does not mean one should become totally dependent on others and go running to others for help every time one has a problem. That will only stop one's growth.
When I'm using MS Excel and I need a formula, I won't go running to my boss or colleagues immediately. I will try to find the answer myself, read the help file, search online, come with atleast one possible answer.
And then, after putting in reasonable time and effort, if I'm not happy with the solution, I'll go and run through the solution with my boss or some colleague.
On the other hand, I can't spend a week trying to find an answer. That just might be too late.
If I'm cooking and not sure about how much salt to add, I can't keep thinking for 20 minutes on how much salt to add, if I wait too long, I'll end up with coal flavoured food. I just call my mom and check with her.
There has to be a balance which I need to maintain and it depends on the urgency of the question.
The normal rule I follow in my professional and personal life is that if I'm not able to find an answer and I'm stuck in a single place for more than 10 minutes, I should consider asking for help.
It doesn't have to be the complete answer, just a guidance, a line of thought, an idea is all that's needed. Most of us are able to pick from there.
So many times it happens that we spend a considerable amount of time on a problem, go ask someone, and it turns out that it was a very small issue which could have been resolved in 2 minutes max.
Whenever you find yourself in that place, all you need to do is Just Ask...
Guls...... rightly said.... u need to have the urge to ask if you are in search of a solution.... do not worry if the one you are asking either a senior or junior... what matters is the answer / solution..... This is what I have learnt from my previous Boss AJD.... and Guls you will agree that you too have learnt this at AJD....
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