Stickies Get You The Help You Need

Need your kids to take out the garbage?  Need you co-worker to get you their part of the proposal? Try leaving them a note on a sticky. Not really sure if it’s the sticky back or the bright colors and demure size but whatever it is, scientists have learned something important about Post-it notes: People who use them get stuff done, specifically, they get other people to get stuff done.

A set of experiments found that when asking someone to take care of a task, adding the personal touch of a sticky note can make it something others want to complete. A sticky note with a handwritten request on it is more like a favor than a task or request, and people are more likely to want to help someone who asks a favor than demands a result.  The Harvard Business Review suggests that an out-of-place note looks a bit like clutter that needs cleaning up, is tough to ignore, is personalized and ultimately makes receiver feel important because of the individualized attention.

And good luck with that:)D