This week I’ve been on the receiving end of multiple emails that go something like this:

Hey Nicole, we met at X event and talked about lots of cool stuff. I was wondering if you could help me out with this project/problem I have. If you’d be willing, please grab some time here [link to their calendering tool].

I know the intention of including your calendering tool is to save time and the back and forth email. But here’s the thing – you’re asking ME for time. Whenever you’re asking someone else for a favor, like a meeting or time, you want to make it as easy on them as possible so that they help you. You want to work around them. When you share your link, it makes it easy on YOU, but less easy on them because they have to click, load a webpage, compare your availability to their own, select a slot, fill out their info, etc.

A good rule of thumb is to make it insanely easy for them to say yes by offering to work around them. My go-to language on this has always been something like:

“Great, thank you so much! I’ll work around you, so please share your admin or calendaring link, or if easier for you, here’s mine: [insert link]”

This shows the person deference and respect, with the added benefit that sometimes it is easier to just click your link rather than loop in your administrative assistant (and sometimes the administrative assistant is in their email, so will book around you anyway!).

Remember, when you’re asking someone for something, make it insanely easy for them to help you. Remove all possible barriers and show deference – this will make it more delightful for them to say yes.