Ted Talk Two W10 P1

“How to Ask for Help - and Get a ‘Yes’” - Heidi Grant
-Most people maintain the “illusion of transparency”, meaning that they expect others to see their problems without asking for help, and expect others to spontaneously help them.
-This is obviously bad to do, because people don’t know what other’s needs are without proper communication.
-Unsolicited advice is also a whole can of worms that usually doesn’t result in pleasant outcomes.

-First thing to do when asking for help: Make the request clear. People won’t want to do it if they don’t know what they’re supposed to be doing.
-Second: Avoid apologies, bribes, or disclaimers. The help will not seem satisfying if it seems like the asker hated asking for help. Also, people are often glad to help without bribes!
-Third: Requests made by texting, email, or social media are 30% more likely to fail as opposed to requests made in person or made by a real person. This relates to a variety of persuasiveness tactics or sympathy.
-Finally: Following up on requests after the fact -showing gratitude or the result of the help provided- makes the work seem a lot more satisfying, which encourages the helper to provide more help if needed. (This is a positive feedback loop!)