Q: People keep letting me down: When I ask them for help, they agree but don't deliver. This has happened repeatedly with a couple of people in particular.
What do I need to do to keep them on track?
Steffi, 35, customer service director
A: Look closely at what you ask for, how you ask, and the strength of the agreements you have reached.
Start with asking the right person. That person may be too busy, but may not feel comfortable saying no. There's a cliché that if you want to get something done, ask the busiest person. But that's not fair and also can lead to under-delivery because that person is overextended.
The helper also needs to know how to do what you need, or have the request framed as a development opportunity with the necessary support provided. If they get in over their head, that won't end well.
Be sure you're specific about what you want. If you're open-ended or vague, then you're likely to be dissatisfied with the outcome. In that situation, the helper could take one of several actions. The person may, sensibly, sit you down and ask questions to have you clarify your need.
If people have done that in the past, consider your responses. If you've been impatient or dismissive, you're shutting down the most positive step they could be taking.