The Daily Stat: Be Sure to Tell People They're Free to Say No to Your Request

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. HOME   |   BLOGS   |   THE MAGAZINE   |   BOOKS   |   AUTHORS   |   STORE RSS   |   Mobile MAY 9, 2013 Be Sure to Tell People They're Free to Say No to Your Request An extreme-sports store's campaign to get its customers to bring in new patrons was nearly twice as successful if the existing customers were explicitly informed that they were free to participate or not, says a team led by Aude Grassini of the University of Bordeaux in France. In other studies, this technique, known as "evoking freedom," has been shown to be efficient in increasing the number of people who agreed to give someone money, the number of passersby who agreed to respond to a survey, and the number of homeowners who agreed to buy pancakes. Source: The effect of the 'evoking freedom' technique on sales in a computer-mediated field setting Share Today's Stat: FEATURED PRODUCT What You're Really Meant to Do: A Road Map for Reaching Your Unique Potential Special Collections Great talent is hard to find, and it's even harder to keep. This special collection will help you: Plan recruiting to attract the right talent for the future Get new recruits off to a fast start along their career tracks Develop positive reinforcements that foster commitment and enthusiasm Reduce turnover and minimize the outflow of star employees Having a product workforce doesn't end with hiring the best person for the job. That's just the beginning. Order your copy of Workforce Wisdom today and learn how to boost your organization's potential. ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Stat: BEST SELLERS HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations Ebook + Video Case Study HBR's 10 Must Reads on Leadership HBR's 10 Must Reads on Managing Yourself HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done PREVIOUS STATS When You Solicit Donations, the Shape of Your Flyer Matters Rich Parents Increasingly Focus on Their Kids' Early Learning Chinese Officials' Ban on Gifts Affects Swiss Watch Market And You Thought Your Inbox Was Big Sales of Certain Lottery Tickets Dip When Temperatures Climb Why You Indulge More When You Pay for Snacks with Cash Crises Can Have Positive Effects on Public-Sector Job Satisfaction Belonging to Groups Makes You Physically Resilient China Is Tops in Survey of People's Love of Risk To Get Consumers to Spend More, Try Turning Up the Lights Introducing Mobile ManageMentor Powered by the proven content of Harvard ManageMentor™ iTunes >> Android >> UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE YOUR PROFILE   |   MORE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS   |   PRIVACY POLICY Was this email forwarded to you? If so, sign up to start receiving your own copy. ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST You have received this message because you subscribed to the "The Daily Stat" email newsletter from Harvard Business Review. If at any point you wish to remove yourself from this list, change your email address, or sign up for other email newsletters and alerts, please visit the Harvard Business Review Email Newsletter Preference Center. OPT OUT If you do not wish to receive any email messages from Harvard Business Review, click here. ADVERTISE WITH HBR This enewsletter is read by thousands of decision makers every day. Learn more about connecting your brand with this audience. Copyright © 2013 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing | 60 Harvard Way | Boston, MA 02163 Customer Service: 800-545-7685 (+1-617-783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada)