How to Be Awesome at Your Job

701: How to Get People to Say Yes through the Power of Persuasion with Vanessa Bohns

Sep 9, 2021
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ANECDOTE

Childhood Birdwatching Shaped Her Research Habits

  • Vanessa grew up on a bird farm and observed bird behavior with a notebook like Jane Goodall.
  • That early habit trained her to meticulously study behavior, shaping her path into social psychology.
INSIGHT

We Underestimate Others' Willingness To Help

  • People systematically underestimate how likely strangers are to say yes when asked for favors.
  • Even unusual or uncomfortable requests often get more than 50% compliance in face-to-face asks.
ANECDOTE

Library "Pickle" Study Surprised Participants

  • In a study asking strangers to write "pickle" in library books, participants predicted needing to ask ~11 people for 3 yeses.
  • They actually needed fewer than five people and got over half to comply.
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