"Poor communication skills can
condemn you to a life of mediocrity and
frustration. Good communication skills
can unlock your dreams of success."
Dr. Robert A. Tracz

Just Because

According to Harvard social psychologist, Ellen Langer, people need a reason to help you and your reason doesn't have to be a good one.

She had experimenters ask to get to the front of a line of people waiting to use a library photocopier.

First the experimenter asked, "Excuse me, I have five pages. May I use the Xerox machine?" and were successful 60% of the time.

They then asked "Excuse me, I have five pages. May I use the Xerox machine because I'm in a rush?" and were successful 94% of the time.

But wait, a third time the experimenter asked, "Excuse me, I have five pages. May I use the Xerox machine because I have to make some copies?" and were succesful 93% of the time.

My point? The reason you give doesn't matter as much as simply using the trigger word "because."

So when you make a request of someone give them a reason. Why? Just because.