„Because“ is a magic word if you want to get people to do something.

Imagine this

You’re lining up in front of a photocopier waiting to make copies.

A person approaches and asks:

Excuse me. I have 5 pages. May I use the photocopier?

A bit later a second person appears and asks:

Excuse me. I have 5 pages. May I use the photocopier because I’m in a rush?

And then a third person arrives and asks:

Excuse me. I have 5 pages. May I use the photocopier because I have to make copies?

Would you let anyone jump the queue. If so, which person?

The experiment

Harvard psychologist Ellen Langer ran this experiment with her team in the 1970s.

And the results?

They were quite surprising:

• 60% of the people let the first person skip the line.

• 94% of the people let the second person skip the line.

• 93% of the people let the third person skip the line.

Yes, this sounds rather crazy, doesn’t it?

So what does all this mean for you?

The lesson here is that people are more likely to agree to something if they understand why it’s being asked.

Giving a reason (almost any reason!) can be a good way to persuade people to do something.

That’s the power of that little word „because“.

Now over to you

Perhaps you’d like to add this word to a request, a statement or a call to action and see what happens?

And don’t forget to tell me if it works for you, too.

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to jump the queue – die Warteschlange überspringen, sich vordrängen

Kevin de Bruyne appreciates the value of multiple perspectives:

I ask why so many European footballers seem better educated than their British counterparts. Perhaps the difference is languages, he says. “There are a lot of people from different countries who speak two or three languages, where English players usually only speak English. I come from a country where by 13 you are studying Dutch, French and English.” With languages, perhaps comes wisdom and humility – an ability to put yourself in the shoes of others, a knowledge that your way is not the only way. He smiles. The Belgian way was never going to be the only way, he says.

I also believe learning new languages can give us a better understanding of different cultures and ways of thinking—and make us more open-minded and empathetic.

On top of that, it can help us become more humble and appreciate the value of other perspectives.

By the way, if you’re interested in learning more about the Belgian footballer Kevin de Bruyne, you might like to read this interview in The Guardian.

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humility – Demut

Most people are surprised to hear that we don’t say anything.

Of course, after having lived in Germany for so many years, I have to say something (and, of course, it can’t do any harm).

So what might I say?

I might say something like :

• “I hope you have a nice meal!”,
• “I hope you enjoy your food!”,
• “I hope you enjoy what you’re eating!” or simply
• “Enjoy!”

It’s also quite acceptable to wish someone “Bon appetit”—one of the many French phrases adopted by the English language.

And if you want to know what good table manners are, watch etiquette expert William Hanson explain them to Gino and Mel on ITV television. (And see how I was taught to eat my peas!)

“What’s cooking?” is a phrase we use as a way of asking what is happening or what is being planned. 

But that’s not the topic of today’s Spark.

Today I’d like to talk about an app I’ve just discovered: MyFridgeFood.

It’s a fun and engaging way to discover new recipes and improve your English at the same time.

All you need to do is to let MyFridgeFood know what is in your fridge. It will then tell you what meals you can make and even how you can make them. 

Now all that’s left for me today is to wish you, “Bon appetit”!

Tanmay Vora created a wonderful sketchnote based on Celeste Headlee’s TED Talk on how to have a better conversation.

Here are some words/phrases you might not know:

• Don’t pontificate – Don’t speak in a pompous or dogmatic way.
• Go with the flow – Be relaxed and accept a situation, rather than trying to alter or control it.
• Don’t equate your experience with theirs – Don’t assume that your experiences or perspectives are the same as those of others.
• Stay out of the weeds – Don’t get caught up in the small or insignificant details.

By the way, you might like to watch how Tanmay creates viral sketchnotes—and practise listening to an Indian accent. And remember, you can always watch with subtitles.

Words are sacred. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones, in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.
Tom Stoppard

If we choose our words carefully and use them in the right way, we can have a positive impact on the world around us.

But how can we choose our words carefully?

We can:

• think about who we are talking to. This can help us choose words that our audience will understand and respond to;
• use specific and clear words. This will help us explain things more accurately and clearly;
• use positive language. This can help us build strong relationships and communicate more effectively;
• avoid using jargon or technical terms. Unless our audience is familiar with these words, they may be confusing and won’t help us communicate our message;
• pay attention to the associations different words have. Some words may have different meanings or feelings associated with them. It’s important to choose words that reflect the meaning and tone we want to convey.

If you’d like to practise choosing your words carefully in a fun and relaxed environment, come and join us for a free Speed Networking session next week. 

I’d love to welcome you.

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sacred = heilig
to nudge = anstupsen