Make the difficult part visible before asking someone else to commit to the whole job.

Agreement given without the hard part in view is not really agreement. People say yes to the shape of a thing, then discover the difficult middle later and feel misled, even when nothing was hidden on purpose. A yes that includes the worst part is the only kind worth having.

When you ask someone to join something, describe the hardest stretch plainly and early: the dull months, the awkward conversation, the part nobody wants. Ask whether that is acceptable rather than whether the idea sounds exciting. Fewer people will agree, and the ones who do will still be there later.