Why not ask for help?

Welcome to Insights and Implications!

We were thrilled to receive this story from one of our program participants. She shared her personal discovery of the power of insight. Please keep sending us your insights as well as your suggestions for future newsletters.

All the best,

All of us at Insight Principles

Why not ask for help?

The following was sent to us by Kristen Opperman of Hemlock Semiconductor, who attended an Insight Principles program earlier this year.

How long do you work on a task or project before you hit a roadblock? No matter how you look at it, or what approach you take – you are stuck. In my role at work, I do problem solving every day and I have been one of the silent sufferers. And I’ve noticed that I’m not the only one. I thought that when you are good at something it meant you had to complete it on your own. But… what happens if you cannot find the best answer, or all of your solutions seem mediocre?

One day, after taking the Insight Principles program with my team, I had an insight. I could ask for help!

Help can come in many forms. Data drivers, technical documents, process experts, or even hallway conversations have helped spark an insight. The insight may come when I least expect it. Ignoring others around me who could help is like overlooking a large knowledge store or library.

I also realized that when I went to ask for help, my own mind got put to rest for a moment. Maybe I’d ask a leading question or let my mind follow the path less travelled. I’d wonder… Sometimes my colleague and I would engage and wonder together. Like I said before, your best insight will come when you least expect it!

Kristen’s correct. She is not the only silent sufferer. Many professionals believe they must figure things out on their own. What’s worse, they neglect a powerful and reliable resource that exists within their minds.

Insight is an often overlooked function of the human mind. Insight is the innate capacity to have a new thought. This thought may offer another view, a different angle, or an answer to a problem or situation. We have been having insights since the day we were born. In fact, as small children, we learned mostly via insight. Insight is a constant possibility.

Why don’t we have more insights? Our thinking can easily become habitual. We think we already know everything. “The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge,” wrote Daniel Boorstin. This roadblock to insight can look like arrogance but more often it’s subtle. We don’t realize the power of our own thinking to create a complete and compelling view of reality.

The other simple reason we don’t have more insights? We forget to look for them. We forget about this constant, natural function operating invisibly behind the scenes. As we bring to light the principles of how the human mind works, we hope we also encourage people to do like Kristen. Stop and look for insight and let it help you.

Kristen Opperman
Sandy Krot

©Insight Principles, Inc.