I’ve always taken pride in being the person who could “handle it.” No matter what landed on my plate, I felt confident there was enough time, enough energy, and enough determination to push through. Asking for help never came naturally. Not because I didn’t have supportive peers or supervisors, but because I didn’t want to burden anyone or look like I couldn’t manage my own responsibilities.
That mindset was tested in a major way last year.
Within one month, both support personnel who reported to me moved on to new roles. Their departures were valid and positive steps for them, but the timing couldn’t have been worse. Almost immediately, I had two new hires starting—amazing people who hit the ground running despite being brand new. But the reality was undeniable: We were entering the end of a key customer’s fiscal year, and work had already piled up long before they arrived.
At the same time, I absorbed four additional team members and a completely new set of responsibilities in a different part of the business. My workload essentially doubled overnight. Instead of stepping back, reassessing, and asking for help, I told myself I could push a little harder, work a little longer, and carry the backlog on my own until everything stabilized.
I was wrong.
The backlog wasn’t manageable. In trying to protect my team and maintain the appearance of control, I became a bottleneck. Vendor payments slipped past due. Requests sat longer than they should have. People who had always trusted me began asking questions, not out of blame, but out of concern. That stung. Not because they were wrong, but because I knew I could have prevented it.
The experience taught me something I should have learned much sooner: Leadership isn’t about absorbing everything, but instead, it’s about enabling the work to move forward. Asking for help isn’t a weakness—it’s a strategic choice. By involving others early, communicating openly, and sharing the load, I safeguard not just myself, but the quality of the work and the trust of the people around me.
Today, when things start to feel overwhelming or frustrating, I remind myself that silence doesn’t protect you. Transparency does. Strong leaders raise their hand before the cracks widen, because asking for help is ultimately an investment in the team, the business, and yourself.
—Alexandra Ramirez, Operations Support Supervisor, HOLT CAT
