Hoping for a promotion? Need an extra day off?
If you’re nervous about asking for what you want in work or life, you likely resort to a polite email to do the job for you.
However, new research shows you could be missing out, big time.
According to a study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, text-based communication is majorly overestimated as a means to fulfilling a request.
In fact, asking someone for something face-to-face is a whopping 34 times more likely to get you what you’re looking for.
In two Western University studies, 45 participants asked 450 strangers to comply with requests either face-to-face or over email. Before making these requests, requesters estimated the number of people they expected to say “yes”.
While requesters underestimated compliance in face-to-face contexts, they overestimated compliance in email contexts.
The take- away? If you want something, put on your big girl pants and ask in person.
You’re much more persuasive than you think.
