The Ability to Say NO is the Power to do What Matters

To avoid unnecessary conflict and bad feelings with ……………

Sometimes I just don’t want to.

What prevents people from saying NO??

Say “no” because I’m afraid how the other person will react. It’s scary to think that the person won’t like you anymore or be upset with you.

Say, “Sorry, but I can't. It's a No.”

Don't feel bad; respect your boundaries and decisions.

Realize that better a no today than a long struggle of tomorrow. No, should always be firm yet respectful.

I never say no to anyone and try to please everyone. Now, everyone takes advantage of my goodness and takes me for granted.

Sometimes when needed, like for a proposal which you can never accept, make things very clear for the future, “I respect your feelings but, no, this can ever happen, no chances for this. Please don't try again.”

For some general offer of friends, colleagues and family for spending time together, say, “not right now, maybe someday later,” and smile.

I would say that the biggest thing preventing people from saying “No” is having your card marked as not being a team player/not being fully committed to the cause etc.

Saying NO to your boss is never something you ‘want’ to do. Of course, we don’t want to appear as though we can’t handle everything, even in the times that we are feeling completely overwhelmed with workload.

When I know I need to tell my boss ‘NO’, it’s not a NO, rather a “I want to complete this project with my full attention and give it the due diligence it deserves so I am asking if this project is something you would be okay with me pushing back until (deadline that fits my ability to complete it with my full attention)? “

“I have many exciting opportunities that are in motion right now that I want to give 100% to. Please let me know if you have concerns and we can make a plan to complete it successfully.”

Perhaps having to say, “No,” can be better managed by upward timely and meaningful information flows.

Disclaimer:?The information on this POST is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional advice. The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this article is for general information purposes / educational purposes only, and to ensure discussion or debate.

Thank you ...Status and progress reports provided to the function leader who is accountable for the overall work plan can go a long way toward eliminating the need to say, “No.”.

Well thought out plans for guiding individual work flows become factual data to validate intensity of work; how much work needs be completed by when?

Priority Setting is a primary function of the Manager of a work process. When asked the question, “Can you take on this new project?”

Being able to respond with facts enables a worker to ask the Manager to set the priority.

?“What do you want me to stop in order for me to accept new work?”

Be firm and calm is the icing on the cake. I’ve found as I get older it’s easier to say no in all the ways noted above and I’m able to get more done and in a better manner. Saying no in these ways allows me to control my work and life and be better at my craft while not allowing those that attempt to manipulate to do so.

Keep in mind too that your time is extremely valuable. Learn to guard it and save it for the things you really want to do.

Do you want to add a word or two?....

I discovered that I needed to evaluate my own tasks and spend some time on what my own efforts needed to be in order to accomplish my list of “to do’s.” This caused me to be more organized and helped me set boundaries which in turn would help me say “no.”

I must mention though that I often worked in an environment where “no” was not an acceptable answer. It was assumed I would do the tasks. This meant I needed to recruit others; sometimes it meant some longer hours, etc. It also meant I pushed back some of my own deadlines.

Your comments........?

I am not sure it is actually saying No, but setting boundaries for what can be completed effectively if Yes is the desired outcome,

We don’t want ourselves our or teams to become known as the team of NO, because then we don’t have to worry about it as no one will be asking us to do anything/working around us. However, if we can, to your point don’t ask questions about priorities and needs, perhaps it is more of a Not Now, or Not Me/Us.

First, sometimes instead of saying “no” I would ask if I could put a team together and work with others in order to get accomplished what needed to be done. This took the complete load off of me and helped bring some who were sitting on the “outskirts” of things a little closer to the middle of things.

After saying “yes” many times when I shouldn’t have, I discovered that I needed to evaluate my own tasks and spend some time on what my own efforts needed to be in order to accomplish my list of “to do’s.” This caused me to be more organized and helped me set boundaries which in turn would help me say “no.”

I must mention though that I often worked in an environment where “no” was not an acceptable answer. It was assumed I would do the tasks. This meant I needed to recruit others; sometimes it meant some longer hours, etc. It also meant I pushed back some of my own deadlines.

I am a “yes” person. I know it. I acknowledge that I must work at being ok with saying “no” sometimes. I was shaking my head saying, “uh-oh, this is me” while reading the list of what happens when you don’t say no when you should have. For me, there are a few reasons I struggle with saying “no”.

?Let me think about it and I’ll get back to you.

?I’m really spread thin these days; I just can’t take it on right now.

I’ve got too much on my plate right now.

?I’m not taking on anything else right now.

However, saying “no” can sometimes be the kindest and best thing you can do!