When and How to Say “No” to Work
Time, Energy & Attention are Finite. However, Work Is Infinite.
Saying no doesn’t come naturally. Most people want to be known as a ‘yes person,’ a ‘go-to person’, a ‘team player’, not the ‘no person.’ But the problem with saying yes to doing additional work or helping someone else do their work, is that it reduces the time, energy and attention you have to do your work and achieve your priorities.
To begin the process of being able to say no to additional work, you need to fully understand the requirements of your job and then identify the top 3 Priorities you need to achieve, as well as when they must be achieved, in order to have a significant positive impact on your Team and the organization.
Identify your top 3 priorities here:
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2.
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Now for the important information: To achieve your top 3 priorities, by the established deadlines, will require 80% of your time, energy and attention.
Knowing you can only give 20% of your time, energy and attention to doing additional work or helping a co-worker do their job establishes the parameters for determining what you must say no to. Below are the questions you need to answer to decide if you should say no to taking on additional work or deciding to help a co-worker:
· Is it within your area of competency?
· Does saying yes means saying no to something more important?
· Do you want to do it?
· How long will it take?
· Will an important relationship be strengthened if you say yes?
· Will an important relationship be weakened if you say no?
· Is it repayment for a favor?
· How much is saying no going to cost the other person?
· Is the request self-interest or collective interest?
· Is it something they can do it but don’t want to do?
After you decide to say no, here’s how to deliver the no message:
Saying no won’t ruin your reputation as a team player if you deliver the no message the right way. The other person may not be happy with your answer, but they’ll be okay with it. Use these 5 elements to deliver an effective and non-bruising no message:
1. Explain clearly why you can’t do the additional work or can’t help (i.e., “I want to help but my workload/deadlines won’t allow me to take on additional work/tasks.”)
2. When possible, suggest an alternative – where they can go to find what they need or someone else who could help them.
3. How you say no matters. Watch your tone and body language. Don’t make the other person feel bad for asking for help. Be kind, but firm. Strive for a neutral no. There is often a temptation to soften the no. Don’t do that because it gives the false hope that you might change your mind.
4. Saying no is a skill you can learn. To get better at saying no, practicing delivering the no message .
Thanks for reading.
About Me: I'm the No B.S. Workforce Performance Coach, a "recovering trial lawyer", an ex-felon, an unabashed Starbucks addict, a Chicago Bears fanatic, the author of WorkQuake?, a speaker on business and leadership topics, and a Member of the Forbes Coaching Council.
BTW: If your organization is considering a coach for individual team leaders or group leader coaching, check out my website PaulGloverCoaching.com. While you’re there, sign up for Paul's Point of the Day -- a word shot of expresso intended to stimulate your brain - or go to my YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkj_nEe19_77icGFqq_jzmg to see/hear me in action.