Master the art of saying “No”
Credit to Author: Murali Murthy| Date: Sun, 10 Jul 2022 20:48:02 +0000
The ability to say No is critical for every professional in today’s ultra-busy world. This simple feeling of control directly contributes to higher engagement and productivity at the workplace, not to mention your morale.
For you to say Yes to what matters most, you must also say No to something else. No is the best answer on many occasions when a weak or hesitant Yes can backfire on your well-being, professional goals and relationships too.
At the same time, it is not easy for a performance-driven executive to say No. Here are a few common instances when saying No could be the right thing to do.
Saying “No” to rude behaviour
When we say rude, it also includes unprofessional and disrespectful behaviour. When it occurs, sometimes you may feel that it is easier to ignore the situation. After all, no one needs any extra drama. But allowing people to get away with disrespect could slowly erode your confidence. It also sends an unintended message that you’re willing to accept that behaviour. Stay strong and say No to such behaviour and only accept civil and ethical behaviour at work.
Saying “No” to time wasters
Sometimes your life may be filled with activities that may not be aligned with any goals and be meaningless at times. In today’s time and age, this implies mindless social media scrolling that doesn’t inform, inspire or energize.
Time wasters also include people who might hang around your cubicle. It also includes saying No to everyone’s half-baked ideas. You will be surprised to see that people will actually thank you when you speak up and carefully put on the brakes.
Saying “No” to project additions
Even when project deliverables have been outlined clearly, you could keep getting the “just one more” project add-on. Often these requests land on your table without the deadline being extended or the compensation adjusted. Say No to project add-ons unless the person or team is open to settling for a new deadline or compensation or both.
Why it’s difficult to say “No” at work
At times, it may be difficult for you to say No to the project superior or the person who might have a direct influence on your career. And soon this imbalance of power could cost teams loss of talent and precious time.
While it’s hard to say no, here are a few tips to help you say No and lead the way.
1. Be firm from the start
You set the example from the way you conduct yourself at the beginning. This means consistently showing up with confident humility and respectfully challenging your co-workers when the need arises. By mastering a skillful No, you set the example and lead the way for others.
2. Establish clear priorities
When you have established clear, strong priorities, you can use them to filter every decision. Confidently pose the question: “Will this step take us closer to the intended objective without compromising quality? If yes, does it help us get there faster?” If everyone is in agreement to the concern raised, you can simply move on. As you can see, in many situations, a simple “No, thank you” settles things.
3: “Yes, but…”
In your work environment, there is an art to saying No effectively. In many situations, your most effective No could start with a “Yes, but….” Start by first affirming the request and understanding the total context. And follow it up with a bridge to the consequences – with a firm “but…..
Now it’s your turn to say “No”
You can do yourself a lot of good and help others by saying Yes to what matters most and at the same time by modeling how to say No. Your peers and superiors value healthy relationships and they will honour your No when you express it confidently and back it with facts and consequences.
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