--- title: How to Support a Coworker Who Is Struggling description: Workplace struggles are more common than you’d think, and it’s in your best interest to help a coworker when they’re experiencing difficulty. image: https://blog.hwstaffing.com/hubfs/Copy%20of%20Search%20Jobs%202023%20-%20Employees%20Laughing.png --- [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/HWStaffingSolutions) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/h-w--staffing/) [Follow us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/HWStaffSolution) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/hwstaffing/) [Apply Now](https://www.hwstaffing.com/join-our-talent-network/) [Employee Portal](https://careers.adaptondemand.com/HWStaffing/Account/Login) [Our Locations](https://www.hwstaffing.com/light-industrial-recruiters/office-map-locator/) [Search Jobs](https://jobs.hwstaffing.com/) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/HWStaffingSolutions) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/h-w--staffing/) [Follow us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/HWStaffSolution) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/hwstaffing/) [![logo-1](https://blog.hwstaffing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-1.png?width=150&height=106&name=logo-1.png "logo-1")](https://www.hwstaffing.com) Open main menu Close main menu - [Job Seekers](https://www.hwstaffing.com/light-industrial-careers/) - [Employers](https://www.hwstaffing.com/light-industrial-recruitment/) - [About Us](https://www.hwstaffing.com/about-us/) - [Job Fairs](https://info.hwstaffing.com/job-fairs-hw-staffing-solutions) - [Contact Us](https://www.hwstaffing.com/light-industrial-recruiters/) [In the Workplace](https://blog.hwstaffing.com/tag/in-the-workplace) # How to Support a Coworker Who Is Struggling [HW Staffing Solutions](https://blog.hwstaffing.com/author/hw-staffing-solutions) ![coworker helping another coworker while sitting at computer](https://blog.hwstaffing.com/hubfs/Copy%20of%20Search%20Jobs%202023%20-%20Employees%20Laughing.png) Everyone faces struggles in life. The support we have to overcome them has a significant impact on how successfully we overcome our issues. For this reason, it’s in your best interest to help a co-worker when they’re experiencing difficulty. Because the brain is wired to pick up on the emotional states of people around you, doing what you can to help someone else benefits everyone.    ## **Use these 4 suggestions to assist a struggling coworker.    ** ### **1. Connect with Your Coworker**  Establish a connection with the coworker who’s struggling (link to post on contributing to workplace culture) . Find a quiet moment to privately ask how they’re doing. Begin with a neutral question that encourages the person to open up. Something along the line of how you noticed they don’t seem like their usual self and would like to help is appropriate. If the person doesn’t want to talk, respect their privacy. If they open up, maintain engagement in what they say.    ### **2. Show Empathy**  Demonstrate empathy when talking with your coworker. Remain calm and reassuring while listening to them. Validate the person’s experiences and feelings. They may say they feel overwhelmed, worried, or stuck. Repeat what you hear being stated. Show that you understand your coworker’s point of view. Remain neutral while validating their struggle. Keep the person comfortable opening up to you. Honor their boundaries with how much they want to disclose. Maintain a balance of support and respect.  ### **3. Uncover theCause**  Act as a coach for your coworker to get to the reasons why they feel as they do. Common stressors include an overwhelming workload, uncertainty of how to move forward with a project, or interpersonal conflict. Ask questions to probe deeper to the source of the issue. Encourage the person to talk about their feelings and what triggered them.   ### **4. Work Toward Solutions**  Help your coworker find ways to overcome their challenge. If their workload is too heavy, discuss their priorities. Clarify which one or two tasks need to be completed first. Find out how the person plans to approach them. Write down the steps to make them more tangible. Ask what your coworker can get help finishing. If they are unsure how to get started on a project, talk through the steps needed to complete it. Reinforce the person’s good ideas while suggesting strategies for more difficult areas. Perhaps they worked on similar projects, or a colleague would have ideas for how to proceed. If your coworker has an interpersonal conflict, constructively reframe the situation (link to post on reinforcing positive workplace culture). Break it down into manageable pieces. Talk with the person to create a plan of action.   ## Make a Job Change  When you’re ready to change jobs, reach out to HW Staffing Solutions. You’ll appreciate the way you’re treated and the opportunities you find. [**Visit our job board today. **](http://jobs.hwstaffing.com/index.smpl?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=SearchJobsCTA&utm_campaign=Blog%20CTAs) [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/22775431/c0d2ceac-8b79-4861-a92a-1a4a461d2572.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/22775431/c0d2ceac-8b79-4861-a92a-1a4a461d2572) - [Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)](https://www.hwstaffing.com/how-to-support-a-coworker-who-is-struggling/?share=pinterest) - [Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)](https://www.hwstaffing.com/how-to-support-a-coworker-who-is-struggling/?share=tumblr) -   - [Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)](https://www.hwstaffing.com/how-to-support-a-coworker-who-is-struggling/?share=reddit) - [Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)](https://www.hwstaffing.com/how-to-support-a-coworker-who-is-struggling/?share=pocket) -   - [Click to print (Opens in new window)](https://www.hwstaffing.com/how-to-support-a-coworker-who-is-struggling/) -   ### Leave a Comment ## Related Articles [![](https://blog.hwstaffing.com/hubfs/Untitled%20(Blog%20Website).png)](https://blog.hwstaffing.com/3-ways-to-take-the-scary-out-of-interviewing) [Interview Tips and Tricks](https://blog.hwstaffing.com/tag/interview-tips-and-tricks) ### [3 Ways to Take the Scary Out of Interviewing](https://blog.hwstaffing.com/3-ways-to-take-the-scary-out-of-interviewing) Yes, job interviews can be scary. It’s your one chance to make a good first impression on your potential employer. You whole, entire career rests with an interviewer who... [HW Staffing Solutions](https://blog.hwstaffing.com/author/hw-staffing-solutions) [Read More](https://blog.hwstaffing.com/3-ways-to-take-the-scary-out-of-interviewing) [![](https://blog.hwstaffing.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/809473_HW-Staffing-Solutions_Remote-Interview-Techniques-That-Improve-Your-Presence_090420.jpg)](https://blog.hwstaffing.com/remote-interview-techniques-that-improve-your-presence) [Interview Tips and Tricks](https://blog.hwstaffing.com/tag/interview-tips-and-tricks) ### [Remote Interview Techniques That Improve Your Presence](https://blog.hwstaffing.com/remote-interview-techniques-that-improve-your-presence) Remote interviews have much in common with in-person interviews. Your goal is to show the interviewer why you are best suited for the role and they should offer you the... [HW Staffing Solutions](https://blog.hwstaffing.com/author/hw-staffing-solutions) [Read More](https://blog.hwstaffing.com/remote-interview-techniques-that-improve-your-presence) ## "We Connect Great People with Great Companies" [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/22775431/eaa77d62-12e4-41cf-b502-dcec5acc816a.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/22775431/eaa77d62-12e4-41cf-b502-dcec5acc816a) ### [Search Jobs](https://jobs.hwstaffing.com) ### [Apply Now](https://careers.adaptondemand.com/HWStaffing/Account/Register) ### [Our Locations](https://www.hwstaffing.com/light-industrial-recruiters/office-map-locator/) ### [Employee Portal](https://careers.adaptondemand.com/HWStaffing/Account/Login)   [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/HWStaffingSolutions) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/h-w--staffing/) [Follow us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/HWStaffSolution) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/hwstaffing/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "HW Staffing Solutions", "url" : "https://blog.hwstaffing.com/author/hw-staffing-solutions" }, "dateModified" : "2023-02-16T22:16:45.719Z", "datePublished" : "2020-08-08T11:43:33.000Z", "headline" : "How to Support a Coworker Who Is Struggling", "image" : [ "https://blog.hwstaffing.com/hubfs/Copy%20of%20Search%20Jobs%202023%20-%20Employees%20Laughing.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.hwstaffing.com/how-to-support-a-coworker-who-is-struggling", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.hwstaffing.com/hubfs/HW_logo_AI-2.png" }, "name" : "HW Staffing Solutions" } } ```