Have-A-Go Weekly Challenge #001: Reasons Why

What's the magic word?

Nope! It's not please. It's because. 

The word because indicates a reason is being given and people LOVE to have a reason. Even if it's not a good one. Seriously! The actual reason doesn't matter half as much as you think it would. Do you remember when your mother would ask you to clean your room and you'd ask, "Why?" 

"Because I said so! That's why!"  she'd yell back and then...you'd go clean your room. 

Guess what? You were both onto something and it wasn't just the fear of what would happen if you didn't clean your room. It was the need for a reason.

According to Dr. Robert B Cialdini, author of, Influence; The Psychology of Persuasion, there's a well-know principle of human behavior says that when we ask someone to do us a favor we'll be far more successful if we give them a reason. And, I've found this principle to extend beyond the realm of favors. 

Providing a reason why, can increase compliance
by as much as 34%.

To test this theory, Harvard social psychologist Ellen Langer, conducted an experiment. While standing in line to use a copy machine at a library, Dr Langer asked those in front, "Excuse me, I have five pages. May I use the copy machine because I'm in a rush?" The effectiveness of this request-plus reason was nearly 94% positive.

When the same request was made without any reason given, only 60% of those asked, agreed to the request. 

In another version of this experiment, she asked, "Excuse me I have five pages. May I use the copy machine because I need to make copies."  Remarkably, nearly 93% of the people complied with her request. Can you imagine? 


Understanding Psychological Triggers

Understanding that people respond to being given a reason serves as an opportunity to question and identify your why's. When you can give your customers an honest reason for why they should consider working with you, reasons that are both true and aligned with your values, it becomes possible to be of service while at the same time, grow your business. Not to mention, having clear reasons for why someone should work with you is a form of identity work that'll help you master your message, build your confidence, sharpen your focus, and so much more.


THIS WEEKS CHALLENGE:

• Play around with making requests. Start small - with your friends, partner, or children. Request something of them without giving a reason - see how they respond. See how many requests you can make before the ask for a reason. Then, make requests with reasons. Try giving horrible reasons and compare them to reasons you consider valid and good. Do you notice a difference?
  
  
• Take this challenge to your website, sales copy, marketing material and sales calls. Look for places where you can give reasons for why. Why you? Why now? Why your method or particular service over another, and so on. 
  
  
• The goal is to make you more effective at getting your message across. It's not to use the Jedi mind trick to manipulate people into doing what you want. Notice if the Dark Side shows itself to you as you play with the challenge. WARNING: Don't be surprised if all of a sudden you see this principal being used in shady ways by others. 

LET ME KNOW:

I'd love to hear what you discover. What worked. What didn't. How did you apply this in your personal and family life? In your business or work life? What new insights did you gain? What questions came up?

By sharing your experience I'll be able to report back the findings to the larger Sagefire community and  we can all grow and learn from one another. See what I did there? I gave a reason without using because. So many ways we can play with this.

Please send your comments with the subject line "Reasons Why" to:  Michael@sagefirementoring.com.  

I'll do my best to respond in a timely fashion.

Best,

Michael