Use an imaginary situation or work with a willing partner. The aim is to make an invitation clear enough that the other person can choose. No one needs to reveal a personal hardship.
How to use this page
Choose a practical example such as sharing information, checking in, or helping with a small task. Agree that passing is a complete response.
Practice an ask
The requester names one need and a timeframe: "Would you have ten minutes to help me find the bus route this week?" The responder can agree, decline, or offer a different time. The requester thanks them for a clear answer and may seek another option.
Practice an offer
The giver asks permission before taking over: "Would help with the form be useful? I can stay for fifteen minutes." The receiver decides whether that help fits. A well-meant offer can still be declined, and the giver does not need a private explanation.
Check what each person understood
Before ending, restate the actual agreement and its limits. Avoid promises of constant availability or confidentiality that the setting cannot guarantee. In a group, discuss the wording using the fictional situation; do not turn the exercise into a public list of personal needs.
Reflection prompts
Use these questions in conversation, on paper, or in the downloaded PDF. You may adapt or skip a prompt.
- An ask or offer I could use, including its limit and a way to decline