Article · ~6 min

Need a Favor? Research Suggests It's Best to Ask In Person

Mahdi Roghanizad and Vanessa Bohns · Harvard Business Review Freemium Intermediate

If you're going to spend a big ask on a launch that really matters, this research tells you how to spend it well: in-person or synchronous requests land dramatically better than a mass text or post. Read it before the next ask you decide is actually worth making, so the goodwill you spend gets you the most in return.

• Direct, synchronous requests succeed far more often than asynchronous ones like a group text or post
• People overestimate how persuasive a written or broadcast ask will be compared to a personal one
• Reserving in-person asks for launches that matter makes the request feel considered, not routine