Want to Improve Your Life? Ask For a Favor
How to give and receive generosity
The thought of asking someone to help us can be uncomfortable.
Even Amanda Palmer, who wrote The Art of Asking, has struggled with this. In her book, she wrote about “the fear of being vulnerable, the fear of rejection, the fear of looking needy or weak.”
So you may be surprised to hear that many people won’t mind if you ask them for a favor. They may even like you more.
Helping others can make people feel important and valued. People tend to feel good when they do something generous.
That’s not to say that you should ask others to do everything for you, but a reasonable favor now and then can help our careers, and our lives. After all, sometimes we need a letter of recommendation, help getting out of a tight spot, or advice.
Still chattering your teeth at the thought of asking? Here are a few tips to make the process go smoothly.
Give a reason
Worried that the person will say no? Give a reason why you need the favor.
A study was done in the 1970s, and still holds up. It was performed at a copy machine, when there was a line of people waiting to use it.
