3 Ways to Stop Being a Pushover

It’s not just timid people who become pushovers at work. Maybe you have a demanding boss you're eager to please, or perhaps you find it easier to agree to things than to argue.

If you don't change, you'll risk getting taken advantage of and burning out when others realize they can push things onto you. To avoid this fate, take these crucial steps.

• Don’t over explain. Respectfully but firmly say no, without going into a long, elaborate explanation about why you can’t do whatever is being asked of you. The longer you talk about the reason you aren’t available, the easier it is for the person to push you or poke holes in your rationale.
• Don’t apologize. If you have pleaser tendencies, the words "no" and "I'm sorry" tend to go hand in hand. Eliminate these words from your work vocabulary. The next time someone requests something unreasonable, don't apologize for not being able to help. Rather, couple your no with a short explanation, and leave it at that.
• Offer an alternative. If you are concerned about being seen as uncooperative or inflexible, come up with a solution that will help whoever is requesting your support but not hurt you too much. For example, if your manager asks you to work late, explain you can’t work past six, but you will drop what you are doing immediately to help him.