Something to doWorkload & wellbeing
Know who to ask when you're stuck
A simple exercise to map your go-to people, so a stuck problem has somewhere to go
Why it’s worth your time
Being stuck weighs more when you don't know where to take it. A short map of who to ask for what turns a vague worry into a next step, and a next step is often what lets your mind let go of a problem after hours. It also shows you where your support is thin, while there's time to do something about it.
How to build your go-to list for help at work
You’ll come away with a short list of who to ask for what, and one gap you've decided to fill.
We’ll turn this into a checklist you can tick off.
- Fill in your go-to people.
One name for each kind of problem, two at most. Short answers are fine, and it's fine to leave a row blank; a blank is information.
Stays in this browser only. Nobody else sees it.
- Mark the gaps.
Where did you hesitate, or write the same name over and over? One person carrying every row is a risk for you, and a lot to ask of them.
- Fill one gap this month.
Pick the thinnest row and find one person for it. Ask your manager who's good at this, or reach out to someone you've seen answer these questions well, and offer something back.
To: someone who's good at what you needI've noticed you're the person people go to for the kind of problem, and it's an area where I'd like to get better.
Would it be all right if I came to you now and then with a question about it? I'll keep them short, and I'm glad to return the favor on something you know well.
Swap the highlighted parts for your thing. Works on Slack, in email, or said out loud. - Keep it where you'll see it.
Your notes app, the top of your to-do list, a sticky note by the screen. The list only helps if it's in front of you when you're stuck.
Good moments for this: once a quarterwhen you join a new team or companywhen someone on your list moves on
We’ll turn this into a checklist you can tick off.
Keep going with Truest
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Anything else we can help you with this week?
Making it work for you
Every workplace is different. Here’s what to think about before you start, and what might get in the way.
Things to think about
Former colleagues, a friend in the same field, a professional community. Some problems are easier to talk through with someone who doesn't work with you.
What might make this harder
Ask your manager one question: who should I get to know here, and for what? Fill in the list as you meet people.
Questions people ask
How do I stop thinking about work problems at night?
It often helps to give the problem a next step: write down who you'll ask and when. A problem with somewhere to go tends to be easier to set down than one that's just circling.
Who should I go to for help at work?
It depends on the problem. Someone long-tenured for how things work, a skilled peer for the work itself, your manager for priorities, and someone outside work for when things feel heavy.
How do I build a support network at work?
Start by noticing who you already go to, and where you have no one. Then fill one gap at a time by asking someone who's good at that thing whether you can come to them now and then.
Why this works, and where it comes from
An unsolved problem tends to keep tugging at you until it has somewhere to go. That's part of why work follows people home: not always the size of the problem, but the lack of a next step. Once you know who you'll ask in the morning, it's easier to stop asking yourself at night.
A lot of getting unstuck at work is knowing who knows. The process nobody wrote down, the system only one person understands, the call that only a certain person can make. People who seem to get unstuck quickly often aren't smarter; they just know where to take things. And asking is usually a relationship, not a burden. People tend to like being asked about what they're good at, especially when you offer something back.
The map is also an honest look at your situation. If your manager's name is in every row, you're relying on one relationship for a lot, which is risky for you and heavy for them. An empty row isn't a failure. It's the most useful thing on the page, because it tells you exactly who to go and find.
A list has limits. If work is on your mind all the time because the load is too much, or because of a conflict, or because something bigger is going on, a map of helpers won't touch it. The load is a conversation with your manager about priorities. Stress that affects your sleep or health week after week is worth taking to a doctor or another professional you trust.
Other simple things to consider
More in Workload & wellbeing
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An exercise written by Truest, based on our experience. Last updated October 23, 2026. We sell a career membership; where that’s relevant above, we say so.