Name the support you actually need
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The idea in everyday life
Separate emotional, practical, informational, professional, accountability, belonging, and emergency needs.
You cannot make a clear ask until the need has a name, size, and time frame.
One step at a time.
Use the sample or information you have permission to use. Keep your work as you go. You can pause between steps.
- 1
List current pressures and goals, then classify each need as listening, advice, skill, introduction, accountability, practical help, professional care, community, or emergency support.
- 2
Write the smallest useful form of each need, when it matters, how private it is, and what kind of person or service fits.
- 3
Move medical, mental-health, legal, financial, abuse, crisis, or emergency needs to qualified resources rather than assigning them only to friends.
See how it works.
Drew separates wanting someone to listen tonight from needing tax advice and a weekly job-search accountability check.
Did you cover these?
- Your work includes a private support-needs map with type, urgency, privacy, ideal source, smallest useful ask, and professional boundary.
- Check this common mistake: Calling every difficult feeling or task the same kind of help and expecting one close person to meet all needs.
- Each priority need has a specific support type and an appropriate human, group, professional, or service category.
What to finish
A private support-needs map with type, urgency, privacy, ideal source, smallest useful ask, and professional boundary.
Watch for this
Calling every difficult feeling or task the same kind of help and expecting one close person to meet all needs.
How can I tell I understand it?
Each priority need has a specific support type and an appropriate human, group, professional, or service category.
Quick knowledge check
Answer all 3 questions. Get at least 2 right and the lesson completes automatically.
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Answer all 3 questions above and get at least 2 right. You can review the explanations and try again.
Go to the knowledge checkOptional course overview video
How to Ask for Help — and Get a Yes
From TED. Watch here or open it on YouTube .
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