February 17th, 2026

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Most ISO professionals weaken their influence before the conversation even starts.

Not because they lack knowledge.
Not because they lack confidence.
But because they open like an interrogator instead of a partner.

The phrase to use

“I need your help.”

Why it works

It positions the other person as the expert.
It lowers defensiveness.
It opens the door to real answers.

What to avoid

Opening with clauses.
Leading with “Can you show me…”.
Opening like you’re checking homework.

That creates short answers.
Short answers hide risk.

Say this instead

Pick one. Use it naturally. Repeat it when you need to reset the tone.
“I need your help to understand the process.”
“I need your help to understand how you do this day to day.”
“I need your help to understand what normally happens here.”
“I need your help to understand how this works in reality.”

Translation:

I respect your role.
I’m here to understand reality, not catch you out.
Let’s look at this together.

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