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I actually have a somewhat different take on this. I know it's often said on this list that you should become an expert yourself under your own steam. I say, it depends...
As shy persons, we may be reluctant to ask people for things. While solitary research and learning is also good, sometimes it's not cost effective for the company for a writer to try and figure everything out themselves. It can be a whole lot faster to find the expert that can help you out than to spend days trying to run a program you're unfamiliar with or find the bit of information that must be 'somewhere' on the Intranet. What's your time worth? A company is paying you for your time, as well as the SMEs. Can asking someone some questions cut hours or days off the time you need to spend on a project? Then ask the question! Be bold...
Yes, do research. But also, ask and ask again, say I. As to where to draw the line-it's a matter of learning, trial and error, like anything else. It's something I've struggled with also.
Eileen Neumann
-----Original Message-----
From: Bruce Byfield [mailto:bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com]
Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2005 3:15 PM
To: TECHWR-L
Cc: TECHWR-L
Subject: Re: Seeking counsel - yet another difficult work situation (very long!)
Downing, David wrote:
>The problem is, sometimes you can't make the
> software run properly at your workstation, or don't have access to it,
> etc. So where do you draw the line between what you should seek out
> yourself and what's okay to ask for?
You can rarely go wrong in trying to do as much as you can for yourself,
and only asking for help when you can't get any further on your own.
On a practical level, your request for help is less likely to meet with
a hostile response if you make clear that you've already done all that
you can. Your informant is less likely to feel that you're trying to get
him or her to do your work.
Just as importantly, after trying and failing, your request is more
concrete. You can explain what you've done that didn't work, and receive
more specific suggestions.
Moreover, When you approach informants in this way, you're suddenly
entering their frame of reference, asking for help on the sort of
problem that they deal with daily. So, naturally, you're more likely to
receive a useful response.
Admittedly, that response will probably only enable you to do more for
yourself. But since that is the way that you should be working if at all
possible, that shouldn't be a problem.
--
Bruce Byfield http://members.axion.net/~bbyfield
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