What To Do When You Need More Direction

No one likes feeling stupid. But sometimes we find ourselves in situations where we are completely, well, lost. It may be a project we’ve been tasked with, a meeting we’re feeling unprepared for, or a new initiative we’ve been asked to join.

Instead of wasting time stressing out and making no progress on your own, ask for help–sooner rather than later! There’s a brief window of opportunity where you can ask for clarity without feeling silly. Don’t wait too long or your boss will wonder why you’ve been wasting time in the dark.

Here are some questions to ask when you find yourself in this situation:

• What’s the overarching goal?
• Can we set up a meeting to talk through the details?
• Is this what you were thinking?
• Where do you see this going?
• Can I have more clarity on this?
• Mind giving me a little more direction?
• Does this sound like I’m on the right path?
• Can you share an example?
• What first step would you take?
• What do you think about this?