Learn to say No !

Everytime we say yes to something that is unimportant, we are actually saying no to something that is important. 'Yes men' and 'Yes women' never create anything great. There's a huge value in getting good at saying no. This has a tremendous effect on our mental health, as it?allows us to value ourselves more. It also helps us prioritize ourselves, and can even lead us to new opportunities that wouldn't have been achievable by saying yes. We can't be all things to all people. It is important for us to define our priorities right. It is important for us to define our goals correctly. It is important for us to know what needs to get done over the coming weeks, months and years for us to feel that we played our best game as a human being. Few best ways to enable this practice -

Give yourself permission to say no :?Many people have a knee-jerk reaction to say "Yes" when they're asked to do someone a favor. Keep in mind, you are never required to say "Yes." It's actually okay to say "No" sometimes. Accept this as you prepare to say "No" to someone. This will help you say "No" with ease.

Establish your personal boundaries :?It's always easier to say "No" if you have a reason.?However, that reason does not have to be concrete. Many people think if they can do something, they should. Your reason for saying "No" can be a simple matter of your own personal boundaries. Think about what boundaries you have, and embrace the fact you're allowed to stay true to them.

Be aware of potential persuasion techniques : People may try to guilt you into doing something to reciprocate a favor. Remember, just because someone did you a favor does not mean you owe them. Friends do not keep score.

Practice saying "No."?It may sound silly, but you can actually practice saying "No" alone. Try standing before a mirror and looking at yourself. Practice giving a firm, "No" to someone so you get comfortable with the words. Many people are nervous about saying "No" and may say "Yes" due to anxiety. Practicing can help quell some of this anxiety.

Ask for more time before committing.?Your knee-jerk response to being asked for a favor may be to say "Yes." Make a habit of not giving an automatic "Yes" all the time. When asked to do something, instead respond with, "I'll think about it" or "Can I get back to you on that? I'd like to, but I might have something schedule.

Start with a compliment or gratitude.?While you should be firm when saying "No," you'll also feel better if you're polite. When letting someone down, soften the blow by starting with a compliment. Express gratitude at having been asked or invited.

Give a clear "No."?After the initial kindness, you can say "No." Be firm here. You want to make it clear you are giving a firm "No" so the person does not press the issue or ask you again.

Thank and encourage the person.?You want to leave things on a good note. You can be firm without being rude or aggressive. Thank the person for thinking of you, and wish them good luck

Assess the Ask : When making a financial investment, most of us do some due diligence—seeking out more information so that we can make a sound judgment. When you say yes or no to a request, you’re deciding where to invest your personal resources, so give the choice the same careful consideration. That starts with insisting on a well-defined ask. Sometimes the ask is sloppy, so you misunderstand: It sounds like more or less than it is, or it sends you off in the wrong direction. That’s why you ought to help yourself and the asker by getting critical details about the request. You can develop a reputation for being highly responsive if you engage in this way. It doesn’t mean you’re agreeing to the ask. It simply signals that you’re taking your counterparts’ needs seriously, whether you can help or not.

A Well-Reasoned No : A thoughtful no, delivered at the right time, can be a huge boon, saving time and trouble for everybody down the road. A bad no, hastily decided, causes problems for everybody, especially you. Bad no's happen when you haven’t properly assessed the ask; when you let decisions be driven by personal biases, including dislike of the asker or dismissals of people who don’t seem important enough; or when you decline simply because you’ve said yes to too many other things and don’t have any capacity left. Bad no's often cause you to miss out on meaningful experiences and are also more likely to get overruled, leaving hard feelings on both sides.

An Effective Yes : Every good no makes room for a better yes—one that adds value, builds relationships, and enhances your reputation.

What is a better yes?

It’s aligned with the mission, values, priorities, ground rules, and marching orders from above. It’s for something that you can do, ideally well, fast, and with confidence. In other words, it involves one of your specialties—or an opportunity to build a new one. It allows you to make an investment of time, energy, and resources in something that has a high likelihood of success and offers significant potential benefits.

CONCLUSION

Most people have too much to do and too little time. Saying yes to requests from bosses, teammates, and others can make you feel important but can be a prescription for burnout.

The only way to be sustainably successful is to get really good at saying no in a way that makes people feel respected and to say yes only when your reasoning is sound and you have a clear plan of attack.

Hope this articles makes sense , would love to hear your views/opinion on the same. Thank you for subscribing to my newsletter. Have a great weekend.