9 Polite Ways to Ask Someone to Do Something

So, you want to find a polite way to ask for a favor. Maybe you’re wondering if it’s even possible to sound polite when asking for something from someone.

Well, you’ve come to the right place. This article will explain how to ask someone to prioritize something or do something fast for you.

• Could you please do this when you get a moment?
• I would appreciate you prioritizing this
• Please make this your top priority
• Please complete this task ASAP
• I need you to commit to this now
• I hope you can complete this for me
• Are you able to help me out?
• I know I can count on you to help me
• I need a favor

You should read on to find out how to politely ask someone to do something. We’ve covered every useful option, allowing you to use phrases in all different contexts.

1. Could You Please Do This When You Get a Moment?

“Could you please do this when you get a moment?” is a polite way to ask that someone helps you with someone. It’s great as a polite request because it shows that you respect the other person’s time.

Using “when you get a moment” shows that you don’t mind waiting for them. It’s effective in formal situations because it shows that you know your coworkers are busy, but you could still use their help.

Why not refer to these examples to show you how to use it:

• Could you please do this when you get a moment? That would be a huge help.
• I would like to ask you a quick favor. So, could you please do this when you get a moment?

2. I Would Appreciate You Prioritizing This

“I would appreciate you prioritizing this” is a great example of how to request something politely. It shows that you need someone to focus on one specific task over everything else.

It’s great to use formally, as it shows that you have something important for someone. If you are the boss, most employees will be happy to help you with the task when you ask in this way.

You might want to refer to these examples to see how to use it:

• I would appreciate you prioritizing this for me. There are a few things we’ve got to do next.
• Well, I would appreciate you prioritizing this one. It’s the most important task you’ll have to do this week.

3. Please Make This Your Top Priority

“Please make this your top priority” is a great phrase showing you how to professionally ask for something in an email. However, it is not directly worded as a question. Instead, it is a polite statement.

It shows that you want someone to make a task their “top” priority. It means they should put everything aside to only work on whatever task you’ve given them.

Check out the following to see how it works:

• Can you complete the assignment as soon as possible? Please make this your top priority.
• Please make this your top priority, Scott. We can’t afford any more mistakes.

4. Please Complete This Task ASAP

“Please complete this task ASAP” is a great synonym here. It shows that you are eager for someone to complete a task.

“ASAP” means “as soon as possible.” It implies that you do not want to wait for the task. So, you should only use it when you expect an employee to stop what they’re doing and help you.

You can refer to these examples to see how to use it:

• Please complete this task ASAP, so I can send it to my superiors. We’re in this together.
• Jack, can you please complete this task ASAP? I certainly think it’ll be good for your prospects.

5. I Need You to Commit to This Now

“I need you to commit to this now” is a great synonym that works here. It shows that you expect someone to help you complete a task.

Using “commit to this” suggests that you expect them to put their other work to one side. You should only use a polite phrase like this if you are the boss. It works best if you have some authority.

We have demonstrated how it works with the following examples:

• There are three assignments left. So, I need you to commit to this now and get them all completed by Friday.
• I need you to commit to this now. You are more than capable of getting it done.

6. I Hope You Can Complete This for Me

“I hope you can complete this for me” is a great synonym for showing that someone should help you with something. It uses “hope” to show that you believe they are the right choice for the job.

Check out these examples to see how to use it:

• I hope you can complete this for me. After all, there’s quite a lot riding on this project going well.
• Nobody else seems to want this task. I hope you can complete this for me before the deadline on Tuesday.
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7. Are You Able to Help Me Out?

“Are you able to help me out?” is a simple question synonym. It checks to see whether someone can help you before you ask them to do something.

That way, you can ensure they have the right skills for the job. If they do, you can ask for help. If they don’t, you can find someone else with no issues.

Here are a few examples to show you how it works:

• Are you able to help me out or not? Of course, it’s okay if you can’t! It just means I still have to find someone.
• Are you able to help me out, though? I don’t want to make things difficult for you.

8. I Know I Can Count On You to Help Me

“I know I can count on you to help me” is a positive synonym. It shows that you appreciate someone and believe they are a good employee.

You should use it in emails to employees you trust. Then, you can boost morale and let them know politely that you can count on them with any task.

You can refer to the following to see how to use the phrase:

• Look, I know I can count on you to help me. You’re always so willing to show me what you can do.
• I know I can count on him to help me. So, please ask him whether he’s free to help us with this.

9. I Need a Favor

“I need a favor” is a great phrase to sound more casual. It’s quite good in conversational settings, so it will work better when speaking with friends.

It shows that you would like someone to do something to help you. A “favor” refers to a task that will benefit you somehow. So, the closer you are to the friend you ask, the more likely they will be to help.

Maybe the following examples will help you understand more about it:

• I need a favor, and you’re still the only one who might be able to help. So, do you mind jumping in to help me?
• Well, I need a favor, so I’ve come to you for guidance. Would you be able to work with me on this?