Asking someone for a favor can be awkward. We tend to avoid direct contact by using an email or text. Unfortunately, impersonal contact is less likely to get you what you want.
Source: Science of Us, December 9, 2016.
Based on two experiments, it seems that asking for a favor is a choice between two situations, each with its own ups and downs: Make things comfortable and take your chances, or be a little awkward in pursuit of what you want.