Making requests and asking permission | Effective Communication
Respect is a very important manner of a person. It can be shown by our actions and how we communicate every day. One of the best ways to show respect is to use polite words or phrases when speaking to someone. When we make a request and ask permission from others, we can be more formal and kind. We can use words such as ‘can’, ‘could’, ‘may’, and ‘please. To make a request is to ask for help from someone. We can say,
“Can you please help me with my project?”
“Can I have some drinks?”
“Could you read the story louder?”
“Could you please pick up the plastic straws on the floor?”
Expressing requests politely will help you more likely to get what you ask for. A person you are asking will probably respond positively and kindly in return to your request. Whether your request is granted or not, it’s still a great feeling to do kindness to anyone. While to ask permission is to seek consent from someone. It is important to ask permission to know if you are allowed to do or get what you wish for. You have no respect when you get something intentionally without asking permission. We can try to speak like this,
“May I borrow your pen?”
“May I go to the restroom?”
“Could I go with my friends to a party?”
“Can I bring the book at home?”
Now you can express your request and ask permission in a kind and polite manner. It sounds good when you use ‘May I’, ‘Can I/you’, ‘Could I/you’, and ‘please’ especially when talking with your parents, friends, colleagues, and even strangers. Being polite in communicating shows respect not only to others but to yourself. Remember that your actions reveal your personality. If you speak rudely, someone may think that your attitude is not good. It is because the way you speak also reflects who you are.
