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Life

14th Apr 2017

This simple action will make you 34 times more likely to get what you’re looking for

JOE

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, don’t be afraid to ask for it in person.