How To Get A "Yes" At Work (Or Anywhere Else)

Do you have a loss of confidence when having to ask people for something? Most individuals cringe when they have to make a request believing they will be denied.

In today's excerpt from my new book Intelligence For Your Life:  Powerful Lessons For Personal Growth I share four ways to increase your chances of getting a "yes" response.

Whether you want a coworker to help you with a project, or a salesclerk to give you a refund—or anything in between—there are three steps that will increase your chances of getting a “YES,” says Kevin Hogan, author of the book The Psychology of Persuasion. Here’s how he says to do it. 

•Use the right word: favor.
Using the word favor (as in, “Would you do me a favor?”) increases your odds of getting what you want because it shows that you know you’re asking someone to make a sacrifice. It also implies that you appreciate their sacrifice, rather than expecting it.

•Make it interesting.
Unusual requests are more likely to be granted than routine ones. For example, in a study done at the University of Pennsylvania, people had more success at collecting thirty-seven cents from strangers than collecting a quarter. Experts say this is because most people’s automatic response is to ignore a request they hear all the time—like, “Hey, can you spare a quarter?” If you ask for something out of the ordinary, it piques a person’s interest. They think you have a good reason for making such a specific request.

•Tell them it’s OK to refuse.
If you say, “I understand if you can’t do this,” it doubles your chances of getting what you want. By letting the person feel in control, he or she is more inclined to help you out.

•Watch the clock.
And from Woman’s World magazine: Research shows that people are more likely to grant you a favor between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. That’s when most people feel the most energized, least frazzled, and most agreeable.

John
Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Do you want more tips on how to be more effective in speaking with others?  I've written a whole section in my book on how you can operate more successfully on your job and at home. Read it in Intelligence For Your Life:  Powerful Lessons For Personal Growth. You can buy it at your local bookstores or order it online from Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.