Orlando’s premier sales and marketing firm, Átomos Minds, recently tackled a common inquiry that managers often pose to their teams: "How can I help you?" While initially seeming like an innocuous question, Átomos Minds has shed light on its potential negative impact and why it might not be the most effective approach. Despite its universal good intentions, research suggests that this commonly used phrase can be counterproductive.
Átomos Minds has identified three key reasons why "How can I help you?" may not be the most suitable question:
It is lazy:
Asking this question might be perceived as putting the burden on the other person, coming across as lazy. Rather than providing proactive ideas or suggestions, the person posing the question is relying on the team member to identify their own challenges and needs.
It is vague:
The question's lack of specificity can be problematic. Without detailing how or in what area assistance is required, managers unintentionally force team members to generate a list of potential tasks needing help. This lack of clarity can be overwhelming and unproductive.
It piles on the pressure:
The phrase "How can I help you?" can be interpreted as an indication of poor performance. This can create anxiety, as team members may feel pressured to identify shortcomings and expose flaws when responding to such a broad question.
To address these issues, Átomos Minds has proactively shifted away from asking "How can I help?" and has adopted a more supportive and specific questioning approach. Instead, they are encouraging managers to ask targeted questions that prompt more insightful responses.
Examples include:
"Do you think I've been a little micromanaging with how I've been following up on work?"
"Have I been putting too much on your plate, and do you need some breathing room?"
"Am I giving you enough information to do your job well?"
"Could I be doing a better job outlining the vision and direction for where we're headed?"
"Am I interrupting you too much during the day with requests?"
By framing questions more precisely, Átomos Minds aims to foster an environment where team members feel more comfortable providing honest feedback. This shift reflects a proactive effort by the company to improve communication and support within the team.
Átomos Minds specializes in direct marketing, offering businesses efficient and cost-effective marketing campaigns. Their approach involves face-to-face interactions to build a robust client base, enhancing brand loyalty, awareness, and customer acquisition for their clients.