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The Importance Of Saying No
(And How to Do It!)
By
Faye Hollands
Do you find yourself saying "yes" to requests just to keep people happy even
when you don't have the time to take on anything else? Or do you struggle to
say "no" because you're worried about upsetting someone? These scenarios can
be hazardous to your career, health and ability to manage your time
effectively so it's important to practice the art of saying no. Here's
how...
How to Say No
It's often much easier to say yes to a request than to say no because you
eliminate the potential of having to deal with an awkward conversation,
maybe upsetting someone, or making yourself feel guilty. But it's important
to weigh up the price of compromising yourself and your time, which in turn
can lead to increased stress levels as well as less time to meet your own
goals and objectives, both personally and professionally. Saying no is not a
selfish act, and in fact can often be more beneficial because it means that
you can spend quality time on the things that you've already committed to.
So when should you say no? Here are 3 strategies you can use to help you
determine when to take on extra work:-
Be Clear On Your Priorities - make sure you know what your current
obligations are before taking on any new commitments. Saying yes when you
aren't sure of your workload can lead to disaster!
Consider Stress - is the request short or long-term and is it going to
increase your stress levels? If the request is going to add additional
stress to your life, especially in the long-term, give it a miss.
Goodbye Guilt - are you changing your plans and doing more out of obligation
or guilt? It's OK to decline an offer and stick to your original game plan -
doing otherwise will only add to your stress levels.
Once you're clear on your priorities and have put guilt to bed, it's time to
say no and enjoy the relief one very simple word can bring. Here are some
tips on how to say no easily and positively:-
Be respectful - make sure you listen to the request, and be respectful, even
if the person asking isn't - don't let your emotions take hold, it's
important to stay calm and in control
You have a right to say no - have confidence in the the fact that it's your
right to say no - people will often have more respect for you if they know
they can't take you for granted
Be polite but firm - quit the wishy-washy responses and avoid the 'maybe'
approach, this only leads to false hopes which then come back to bite you
later on
Be honest - don't make up an elaborate story about why you can't say yes,
just be truthful and honest about your reason
Prioritise - if your boss asks you to take on more work, consider asking
'What would you like me to give up in order to create the time to do this
for you?"
Avoid obligation - Depending on the circumstances, you're not always
obligated to explain your reasons for saying no - don't feel as though you
have to elaborate, a simple decline is enough
Buy some time - if you still feel hesitant to say no, buy some time so that
you can consider your options rather than feeling pressured into saying yes
on the spot.
Remember that whilst saying no isn't always easy, and in fact it can be
nerve wracking and stressful, the side effects associated with being a
'yes-person' can be much more painful in the long run. It's worth the effort
to work through these steps and go through the sometimes uncomfortable
process of saying no, so that you can take back control of your time and
reduce your stress levels.
About the
Author: Written by Faye Hollands, Career Coach and Time Management Specialist at
Outshine Consulting. Faye specialises in working ambitious professionals who
want to create a career they love, get more done in less time, and be
personally and professionally successful.
Click the following link to receive FREE INSTANT ACCESS to a LIVE recording
of Faye's recent teleseminar on "How To Create A Career you Love". Click
here now for immediate access:
http://www.outshineconsulting.com.au/Download.html.
Or visit http://www.outshineconsulting.com.au for more free career coaching
and time management resources.
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