How To Ask For A Favor

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified)
in
General Questions and Comments

I recently stumbled across this post from HBR on how to ask for favors: http://blogs.hbr.org/glickman/2011/01/asking-for-a-favor-the.html 

Seems solid (and actionable!) on it's face.  Anyone see pitfalls or have alternative techniques that have proved effected?

--Steve

Submitted by John Hack on Friday March 23rd, 2012 7:31 am

For many, a "favor" is a chit, something that can be banked and cashed in later. 
Asking for help, rather than a favor, is less transactional, and doesn't imply a quid pro quo. 
John Hack

Submitted by Matt Palmer on Friday March 23rd, 2012 9:09 pm

I think however you phrase it, some people will take a request as a quid pro quo, and others won't.  Prefacing your request with "can I ask you a favour?" is just acknowledging the situation and (as the article suggests) puts the recipient of the request in the right frame of mind.  It's no different to "Can I give you some feedback?", in my opinion.