People are more likely to adapt their behavior if you give them a reason to do so. Here’s how you can benefit.
How to boost motivation with the Reasons Why principle
You’re in a hurry for an appointment, and the clock is ticking. Your last-minute task: copy some important documents. But, as luck would have it, there’s a long line of people waiting for the copier. What’s your move? You decide to ask if you can skip the line. Surprisingly, your chances of success depend on one crucial factor: providing a reason.
In a groundbreaking study known as the ‘copy machine study,’ Harvard professor Ellen Langer delved into the fascinating realm of motivation and reason. She set out to investigate:
Whether offering a reason could give you priority access to a busy copy machine.
