What is the first step in creating an influential request?

The first step in creating an influential request is to identify the desired result. Understanding what you want to achieve is crucial before you engage with others. This involves having a clear vision of the outcome you seek, which allows you to articulate your request more effectively. Knowing the desired result provides direction and focus, enabling you to tailor your message to align with that goal.

Once the desired result is established, you can craft your request in a way that highlights its benefits and relevance to the other person, thus increasing the likelihood of compliance. A clear goal makes it easier to present a compelling case, ensuring that your request resonates with the person you are addressing and emphasizing its significance.

While other aspects such as assessing willingness, structuring the request, or evaluating your own skills are important in the overall process of influence, they come into play after you have clearly defined what you want to achieve. Identifying the desired result lays the foundational step necessary for all subsequent actions involved in making an influential request.