How To Talk To Anyone

In this book we will refer to different types of requests such as: asking for favors, information or help, asking for defective merchandise to be changed, proposing activities, etc.

Being assertive when making requests means asking for what we want, properly, while respecting the rights and feelings of others.

This includes:

• Asking for things frequently, as this increases the chances of other people accepting our requests and getting what we want.
• Request information on issues that interest us or that we do not understand (e.g., in class or at the doctor's office).
• Expose what we want clearly, to facilitate the other to understand us and to reduce the chances of our message being ignored or distorted.
• Make requests persuasively, to make it easier for the other to access them.
• Consider how the other feels so as not to bother him unnecessarily.
• Respect the right of others to reject our requests.
• Non-assertive ways of making requests: inhibition and aggressiveness