Know The Palatable Ways Of Asking

Know The Palatable Ways Of Asking

Asking is a basic ingredient to success. When you aim to achieve something, asking is one of the first actions you must do to obtain what you want.

Part of your everyday activity involves asking. Hardly can you notice that you are actually asking every time, even on the smallest or most insignificant things like “What time is it?” Even the simple greeting “How are you today?” is in essence asking a question.

It is imperative, especially when you are aware that you are in the position of asking for a favor or for a job to be done, that the manner on which you ask the other person be the proper way, to produce pleasant positive responses, regardless of whether you are the boss or not.

Be courteous when you ask for something, even if it is not a favor. Even if it is the duty of the person asked, courteousness remains to be a vital part of the process of asking. Like an engine that needs oil to run smoothly, courtesy lubricates asking. Words like “please” or “would you be kind enough” can do wonders to asking. Asking is like a bland dish, so you have to put some spices on it to make it palatable.

Ask with eagerness. When the person you ask from sense your eagerness, you have somehow triggered the eagerness of the other person to answer your question. Your eagerness connotes importance. It makes the other person feel important as well for having made you important. Make sure that your eagerness is still accompanied by courteousness.

Ask in a firm, reasonable manner. Make sure that what you ask for can be reasonably done or declined. Don’t ask for things that may seemingly be next to impossible or improbable. Don’t make the other person think, “What am I, a magician?”

Ask for practical and logical favors. When the asking process is logically firm and reasonable, the other person senses the importance and the consequence involved should the request be turned down or haphazardly done. Let the other person see the importance not only superficially, but beyond.

Ask convincingly, but do not demand. Make your asking pressure-free. Forceful asking creates an invisible barrier. It makes listening to the order or request irritable; thus, making the other person feel defiant. The other person’s urge to help may diminish. The focus becomes concentrated to ruin your request, all because of your manner of asking. Instead of complying with your request, the other person may try to find an excuse. As far as the other person is concerned, you are not asking, but you are demanding. Release the pressure that makes the asking process look demanding.

Ask with authority, yet with diplomacy. When you are in the position to ask with authority (say you’re a supervisor or manager), the other person expects this from you. Show him what he expects. But authority should tag along with it the diplomacy that must come with the asking. The credit for a job well done should and must go down to the lowest rank of the people behind its success.

Asking may look so simple. It actually is, as long as it is done in a palatable manner.