8/10 Work & Productivity Hacks

 Use "because" in requests – Studies show people comply more when given a reason, even if it’s weak.

The idea comes from a famous psychology study by Ellen Langer, where researchers found that people were more likely to comply with a request when it included a reason—even if the reason was weak or obvious.

For example, in one experiment, someone tried to cut in line at a photocopier and said:

1. Without a reason: "Excuse me, may I use the copier?" → Compliance rate: 60%
2. With a weak reason: "Excuse me, may I use the copier because I need to make copies?" → Compliance rate: 93%
3. With a strong reason: "Excuse me, may I use the copier because I'm in a rush?" → Compliance rate: 94%

The key takeaway? People hear "because" and tend to comply, even if the reason is obvious or weak.

Example in everyday life:

• Weak reason: "Can I borrow your pen because I need to write something?"
• Stronger reason: "Can I borrow your pen because mine just ran out of ink?"

This trick works in many situations—whether you're making requests at work, persuading someone in an argument, or even asking for favors.