If you want someone to help you, you can increase your chances if you ask them for help in-person. Cornell University researchers tested asking for help in several different ways and found asking in-person came with huge advantages, which most people underestimate. Study co-author, Vanessa Bohns, says one explanation for this could be that, “When we are the ones asking for something, we think what matters is what we are asking for, rather than how we are asking for it. We tend to think people will weigh the costs and benefits and make a measured decision about whether to agree to something, saying ‘yes’ only if they really want to. But in fact, people agree to all sorts of things, even things they’d rather not do, because they feel bad saying ‘no’ in the moment.” The data showed that if you must ask for help from a distance, it’s best to ask via video or phone call, rather than email or text.