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How to Ask a Favor

By an eHow Contributor
Retrieved from: http://www.ehow.com/how_2073724_ask-favor.html

Asking for a favor is amazingly easy for some people, while others practically stammer to get their request out. We all need help at work, school or in our personal lives. Whether you need a small favor (a few free cookies for the kids) or a big favor (help with the mortgage payment), here's how to get your favor granted without losing friends or your pride.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Ask only for what you really need. Regardless of who you ask or how you ask, convincing someone to help you shouldn't be taken lightly. It's fine to ask for favors once in awhile, but don't make it a habit or crutch. Being self-sufficient is a sign of strength, so endeavor for that first.

2. Be confident, but don't assume the answer will be yes. A middle ground seems to work best for asking favors. Don't be arrogant and assume it's owed to you, but don't be weepy and apologetic either.

3. Choose the right person to help you with a favor. If you need to borrow money, ask someone who has money, not someone who's broke like you. If your requests are always being turned down and what you're asking for is reasonable, then maybe the person you're asking isn't the best person to choose. You'll probably always get no for an answer from that person, so choose another friend.

4. Back up your request with facts. Let the person you're asking know why you need the favor, and ask with logic. Even if you're in dire straits, try not to get too emotional.

5. Return the favor. Take the coworker who helped you with your report out for a coffee, or reward your best friend with concert tickets after they get that autographed CD for you. Remember, what comes around goes around.

I want to do this! What's This?

Task: pick one of the instructions and mention and example of the situation in your own words. Insert your answer as a comment to this post.

Example:
Instruction 4 - A friend asks for a textbook to a classmate of his. He says he hasn't bought it yet because the library will have the books within two weeks.