When we tell people our intentions, it changes the context of how they see our actions. Not just does it make us possibly more sympathetic, it also may make us more dependable.
Even Free Shoes
Even when things are free, they can be a difficult sell. Think about these three possible first sentences. A stranger approaches with shoes in hand and says one of these three things…
- “Here are some free shoes”
- “These are great, top of the line shoes brand new”
- “The way I spread joy in the world is I try to find someone every day who I think is perfect for a new pair of shoes”
The same person could say all three of them, but when they let their heart shine, or whatever, the shoe fits. We hear that person’s ethos and it changes the shoes for us. Hearing about the heart of the giver means that we know a lot of background of the product.
If we believe them, we know that the giver wants us to have something nice, they believe that the shoe is actually right for us, and that the stakes are high for them to get it right — as well as other positive assumptions.