2. Analyzing a Significant Request I Will Make: How I Can Apply Positive Phrasing Principles

The technique of positive phrasing can help my career because leadership often involves asking others to do things. Below, I present a new request and justification (both positively phrased) where I will ask a real person to do something. This section assumes that I have correctly phrased both the request and the justification positively, and that the justification is intrinsic or intangible (rather than something tangible like offering a reward, swapping favors, or threatening a punishment).

Question 1. Request and justification, and background: [Describe this future request in a sentence or two: Who is this (actual) person you are asking? What will you ask the other person to do, and how will you justify it intrinsically? Try to give the actual language you would use. Remember to pick a request that needs some justification.]

Question 2. Analysis why it should be motivating to the other person: [Again, this section assumes that your proposed request and justification are both phrased positively, and that you have picked an intrinsic justification. The point here is to analyze why your justification should work, based on what this person cares about or values. Why will the other person feel motivated to cooperate? Finally, are there other intrinsic rewards that you might point out, perhaps if you were making the request to a different person? This last question about changing the reward based on the person is based on a simple observation: Individuals value different things. One person might be swayed by pointing out that they can spare others from unhappiness (definitely an intrinsic, intangible reward). Another person might be swayed by the opportunity to: build their influence/reputation (but without an immediate payoff), or bring greater coherence to the companys planning process, or promote a big fun social event. It varies with the individual, so show some discussion of what intangibles (i.e., not tangibles like money or punishment) make that person tick.]