Being strong isn’t about being a superhero or about putting on a brave face, because if we all did that all the time, we’d be cracking under a fragile façade. ‘If you’re in a team where everyone is putting on a brave face, you can think you’re the only one struggling, so your understanding of your struggle is centred in self-blame,’ explains Johnstone. ‘If you share it, you get a sense of common humanity, which normalises the difficulty and makes it easier to bear for everyone. Also, relationships are always deepened when somebody asks for help.’
Theodores agrees, asserting that asking for help is a genuine strength, especially for those in a position of leadership. ‘You create an instant network of resources and creative collaboration,’ she explains. ‘Asking someone for help immediately creates a relationship of trust and reciprocity, because you will also be able to offer help back.’