How to invite friends. Today I’m giving you a fun alternative to “do you want to” and “would you like to” so stick around if you want to sound less pushy and more natural when inviting someone somewhere.
You’ll notice that this formula is not as pushy as just inviting someone point blank, instead you are showing respect for their time and their interests.
Today I’m giving you a marvelous phrase for how to invite friends.
Traditionally some people invite friends by asking “what’re you up to this weekend?” “what’s on the docket next week?” or something more generic like “do you want to ….” “would you like to…” The trouble with this phrasing is that these types of questions can be viewed as nosy.
Think about it... If you ask someone what they are up to that weekend, to answer the question, they have to tell you about their weekend schedule. That might be information they don’t want to share.
And if you ask them “do you want to do something with me”, or “do you want to hang out” they are forced to answer without thinking about it, which isn’t a comfortable feeling. That’s particularly true if they don’t actually have plans. Maybe they just want to relax at home. How would you answer that? You might feel like you have to lie and say you have plans, just to decline their invitation.
Instead, it’s better to present the invitation as an option for them. For example, “I’m going to the movies this weekend. I’d love for you to join if you don’t already have plans”.
This approach will achieve 2 important things:
- They don’t have to tell you their private information
- They don’t feel pressure to make a decision on the spot – they can simply say, let me check my schedule and get back to you
So the key here is giving them all the information upfront about what you are doing and when you are doing it without forcing them to give you any information about what they are doing. You set the expectation that they are too busy join, even though you want them to come. This makes it easy for them to decline for any reason. And if it turns out that they can join, they get to say so and make you happy! Everyone wins.
Now, you might be thinking that this sounds like a lot of work. But here’s the thing, when you show that you respect someone’s time, they’ll have even more respect for you. And you’ll stand out as a considerate friend and communicator.
Over time, you’ll find that this approach leads to many more Yes’s and stronger relationships.
Let’s quickly recap.
Here’s my formula for being polite and not nosy when it comes to how to invite friends:
Hey, I’m planning to do XYZ. If you’re free this weekend, I’d love for you to join.
So you see Explearners, you can be a savvy, authentic, and tactical communicator without being pushy.
The next time you want to invite a friend, colleague or love interest out somewhere, you’ll know what to do.
Add this phrase to your communication toolbox, try it out, and make it your own!
I’ll see you in the next lesson. 😊
Happy Explearning 🐝
About the Author and the Explearning Academy:
Mary Daphne is an expert in communication, executive interpersonal skills, and personal development. She is the founder of the Explearning Academy, a platform dedicated to helping individuals enhance their social fluency, boost their careers, and elevate their social game. Through immersive group coaching programs like the Executive Communication Lab and self-guided journeys, participants gain the social superpowers and career catapults they've been searching for. If you're ready to take your negotiation skills to the next level and connect with like-minded individuals, visit academy.explearning.co and explore the various plans available. Join the Explearning Academy community and unlock your full potential.
Thank you for reading! If you found this blog post valuable, don't forget subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow our podcast!
✨
🎁5-DAY FREE CHALLENGE 🎁
🎤 Sign up for my group coaching program🎤
🤩 Join our community 🤩 for a self-guided fully-supported journey
✨ Learn more about Explearning Academy ✨
🏆 Sign up for our 33-Day Executive Excellence Challenge 🏆
