Practical Sales Training™ > How People Work > I’ll Wait While You Do It
I’ll Wait While You Do It
If you want someone to act right now, offer to wait while they do it. That single sentence traps people in politeness. So refusing suddenly feels far ruder than just getting it done.
Why Does It Work
It works because of plain politeness. If someone offers to wait while you send an email, refusing feels harder than it should. Excuses are hard to find fast. So most people just do the thing instead.
How Can You Use It
Pick A Small Action
Pick one small, simple action for the person to complete. Sending an email, submitting a detail, or confirming they’ve received something all work well. Checking a small detail works too. A payment request is easier for someone to dodge.
Say It Live, In The Moment
Say the line live, while you’re actually talking to them. It works on a call, on Zoom, or even in a DM chat. So the moment has to feel real and immediate, not scheduled for later.
When It Works Best
This works best for small, low-friction actions the person was likely to do anyway. Use it right when hesitation might creep in. Not days after the conversation ends. It suits quick admin steps far better than big decisions.
When It Becomes Dangerous
It becomes dangerous when you use it to pressure someone into something unagreed. Because waiting on the phone isn’t consent. It’s just social pressure. So only use this for steps they’ve already said yes to.
Common Mistakes
Using It For A Big Decision
Using this for a big decision is the most common mistake I see. Waiting on the phone doesn’t turn a large ask into a small one. So save it for truly minor, already-agreed actions.
Making The Silence Feel Awkward
Making the silence feel awkward instead of natural is the second mistake. If the wait feels forced, the trick becomes obvious. Obvious tricks lose trust fast. So keep your tone light and unhurried, even while you wait.
I’ll Wait While You Do It – An Example
The Program Payment Link
I was joining an online program. In the DMs, the seller sent me a payment link. Right after, they sent a message saying they’d wait while I paid. I felt obliged to pay there and then. Not later in the day, as I’d actually planned.

See Also
- The Price of Polite
- Cats Paw
- 50+ ways that people work & make decisions
- 100+ ways to get your buyer to take action



