How Do I Get Help? | Coaching Real Leaders | Podcast

Harvard Business ReviewFriday, October 30, 2026

Summary

Marketers are increasingly voicing concerns about the effectiveness of their ad campaigns, particularly when metrics like impressions do not translate into actual revenue. This phenomenon, referred to as "bullspend," highlights the disconnect between positive dashboard metrics and tangible business outcomes. Industry experts emphasize the importance of focusing on revenue rather than just reach, with platforms like LinkedIn being noted for delivering the highest return on ad spend among major ad networks.

In a recent coaching session, an executive known as Sabine reflects on her career journey and the challenges she faces after undergoing a life-changing surgery. Sabine expresses a desire to shift her approach to work, seeking to work smarter rather than harder. She grapples with the realization that her previous methods of relentless pursuit and hard work have led to burnout, prompting her to seek a more sustainable career path. The conversation highlights the need for self-compassion and the importance of leveraging support from others, as Sabine navigates her next steps in a changing professional landscape.

As she contemplates her future, Sabine recognizes the value of asking for help and the necessity of building a network of support. This introspection leads her to consider how her past experiences and assumptions about work may need to evolve in order to achieve a healthier balance in her career. The session concludes with a focus on actionable steps for Sabine to take, emphasizing the importance of clarity in her career goals and the proactive pursuit of opportunities.

Show Notes

How Do I Ask for Help? | Coaching Real Leaders | Podcast

14 Dec 2022

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She’s carved out a unique role for herself, which she loves, but worries that the pace of work is unsustainable. As she thinks about the next step in her career, she realizes that it will require her to lean on the help of others — something she’s not used to doing. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches her through how to get the support she needs to move forward in her career.

Further reading:

• To Take Charge of Your Career, Start by Building Your Tribe: https://hbr.org/2018/04/to-take-charge-of-your-career-start-by-building-your-tribe • How to Ask for Help at Work: https://hbr.org/2021/04/how-to-ask-for-help-at-work • The Best Leaders Aren’t Afraid to Ask for Help: https://hbr.org/2019/01/the-best-leaders-arent-afraid-to-ask-for-help

Listen to all Coaching Real Leaders episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzAU8TPKsJua_hcLjT7aFzWcoqMnrp-z7

You can also listen to this episode on HBR.org, and wherever you listen to podcasts: - HBR.org (transcript available here): https://hbr.org/podcast/2022/12/how-do-i-ask-for-help - Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-do-i-ask-for-help/id1545444200?i=1000589906025 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4d0zS7mLznQTuJwhDORp6G?si=7fa9940010764412 - Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/coaching-real-leaders/episode/how-do-i-ask-for-help-209690194 - Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmhhcnZhcmRidXNpbmVzcy5vcmcvaGFydmFyZGJ1c2luZXNzL2NvYWNoaW5nLXJlYWwtbGVhZGVycw/episode/dGFnOmF1ZGlvLmhici5vcmcsMjAyMC0xMi0xNzpjb2FjaGluZy1yZWFsLWxlYWRlcnMuczQuMDAwNg?sa=X&ved=0CAQQ8qgGahcKEwiovI_z0fT7AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQLA

Series Description: We all want to get to the next level of our career, but so many of us get stuck. Longtime leadership coach Muriel Wilkins takes you inside real-life leadership coaching sessions with high performers working to overcome professional challenges and grow as leaders. Listen in on real conversations and leave with new insights and practical guidance for your own career.

The views expressed on this podcast are those of its hosts, guests, and callers, and not those of Harvard Business Review.

About Harvard Business Review: Harvard Business Review is the leading destination for smart management thinking. Through its flagship magazine, books, and digital content and tools published on HBR.org, Harvard Business Review aims to provide professionals around the world with rigorous insights and best practices to help lead themselves and their organizations more effectively and to make a positive impact. Learn more at www.hbr.org.

Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 2:55 – My Health is Forcing Me to Change Careers 5:31 – Clarifying What You Want Your New Career to Look Like 12:32 – Did Your Environment Cause Your Burnout ¬– or Did You? 22:31 – Showing Yourself the Compassion You Show Others 30:03 – Should I Share My Struggles with My Colleagues? 34:37 – How Do I Design My Ideal Career? 41:07 – Scenario Planning and Asking for Help 53:51 – Outro

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