When you include these 4 magic words in your requests, people are more willing to help you. Recent studies suggest

Making a small change in the way you word your request can greatly affect your chances of success.

Selling, hiring, investing, or anything else you ask others to do and get their approval is usually the key to success in business. So how can you improve this essential success skill?

finding the right person to ask  and making sure you highlight what’s in it for them are two things many persuasion professionals emphasize. Naturally, this is an essential element in getting a yes. In general, a mistargeted request fails. However, you’d be shocked to learn how little stylistic aspects matter more than content.

According to Harvard research, short emails quadruple the likelihood of getting a response. Many other research analyzes have shown that by emphasizing that someone has the right to say no, you can increase the likelihood of a positive response. According to another study, you can increase response rates by 36% by changing the way you approve requests.

The science is clear: even slight changes to the wording of your requests can significantly impact your success rates. Recent research published in Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes also found another extremely powerful style tip: adding just four short sentences to a request significantly increased the likelihood that the request would be accepted.

Add these 4 magic words when asking for help

This research was based on basic intuition. Often, we don’t need the help of those we already know well. Instead, information or insights gained from connections to connections can be more beneficial. Research shows that the greatest career growth comes from interacting with people who are perceived as weak ties, or people on the fringes of our social networks.

This is due to the fact that those who are close to you usually have similar knowledge. New and useful information is more likely to come from distant connections. However, many people are hesitant to ask for recommendations out of concern that they may offend others or put them in an unpleasant situation.

How to access the wealth of knowledge beyond these barriers your social network? The scientists behind this latest study set up a series of seven experiments to answer just this question.

Small change, big impact

“Can you help with this?” Don’t just send an email to a contact that says so. If you need help with a challenging problem, for example. Put something like, “Can you or someone you know help with this?” Instead

The study authors explained their findings to Inside Knowledge by stating that “generalized help requests from “you or someone you know” rather than personalized help requests may reduce requesters’ aversion to referrals and lead to better help. Because generalized help requests allowed for the likelihood of referrals, By allowing requesters to register someone more competent if they themselves felt competent, the quality of support received—from third parties and from the requesters themselves—increased.”

Although the researchers’ terminology is complex, their ideas are clear. Often, requesters worry that theyTeasing people by asking for recommendations. Meanwhile, those who are repeatedly asked for help forget to give it. As a result, many opportunities to connect people with resources and real support are missed.

This is also an easy answer. When you add “or someone you know” to a request, you’re gently encouraging the person making it to consider whether connecting you to one of their contacts would be the most beneficial course of action. Very subdued wording eliminates any potential for embarrassment by making it clear to your contact that there is no need to forward your request.

Askers no longer have to worry about coming off as a jerk, and askers receive a kind reminder to consider referring. Through social networks, information is more readily available and you are more likely to find the support you need to succeed.

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