Why do capable people find it so difficult to ask for help?

Leo Bottary argues that strong teams treat asking for help as an act of resourcefulness—not an admission of weakness.

In this Best Of episode of the Thriving Leaders Podcast, Leo and I explore the connection between psychological safety, feedback and shared accountability. We discuss why team members can struggle to speak up, how a simple change in language can make asking for help feel more inviting, and what happens when feedback becomes everyone’s responsibility.

Leo also shares a memorable team exercise that demonstrates how difficult it is to improve when we are effectively working blind.

You’ll hear us explore:

– Why successful people view asking for help differently

– How to turn a request for help into an invitation

– Why teams need consistent feedback loops

– The role of trusted intent when giving and receiving feedback

– How preparation and shared expectations support teams under pressure

Leo Bottary is an author, speaker, facilitator and the founder and managing partner of Peernovation. His work explores how peers help one another learn, perform and achieve more together.

Watch the full conversation: https://youtu.be/DJa8pzThdjc

I’m Claire Gray, leadership and team facilitator, executive coach, keynote speaker and author of Thriving Leaders and Thriving Teams. Through the Thriving Leaders Podcast, I share practical ideas for building stronger leaders, healthier cultures and high-performing teams.

Learn more: https://thrivingculture.com.au

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