99 Ways to Influence Change, #58: Ask for help

July 28, 2010

When it comes to motivation, few things pack as much power as tapping into people’s altruistic nature. One way to enlist someone to the cause is simply to ask for their help.

People like to feel needed. When you ask for help, you admit that you can’t implement the change on your own, and that the other person holds an important piece of the puzzle. You connect them to a cause greater than themselves.

Asking for specific help in small doses works as well. When you request a favor, the understanding is that the person will do it just because it is the nice, friendly thing to do. Often people will take small steps in the right direction just because they want to help the person who asked.

To influence change, appeal to the other person’s generosity of spirit, and ask for help.