Saying “no” at work can feel uncomfortable. You don’t want to appear rude or unhelpful, and you don’t want to disappoint your boss or co-workers. Sometimes, though, saying “no” is the best choice. You may not have the bandwidth to address the other person’s request, or you may not have the resources or skills to complete the task effectively.
A post on the Sunsama blog says that when you can identify key moments to decline, you’re less likely to fall into the trap of automatic agreement. How can you say “no” professionally? We share tips from the Sunsama post in this issue of PromoPro Daily.
- Evaluate the request. Don’t respond right away. Instead, make sure you fully understand what the other person is asking. Get more details if necessary and consider how the request aligns with your current priorities and workload. The post says it’s better to say “no” upfront than to overcommit and underdeliver later.
- Explain your priorities. This gives context to your reasoning and helps others understand your decision. The post says that when you clearly communicate your priorities, you show that you didn’t decide on the fly but based your choice on strategic considerations.
- Don’t overexplain things. If you craft a complex excuse, the post says you’ll often open the door to more questions and potential scrutiny. Instead, give a concise, honest reason why you’re saying “no.” You could say you have a conflicting deadline or you’re at capacity with your current workload.
- Be kind but firm. According to the post, you should covey your message clearly without leaving room for misinterpretation. Don’t use wishy-washy language that could give false hope, and don’t use overly blunt or cold responses. A balanced response would look like, “Thank you for thinking of me for this project. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to take it on right now due to my current workload. I hope you understand.”
In the long run, saying “no” can set you up for more success. Take a moment to assess the request or invitation, and then let the other person know what’s going on in your world right now. Don’t give a complex excuse, but rather a short, honest reason why you’re declining. And, finally, be nice about it. You can say “no” to things and still have productive, enjoyable working relationships.
Compiled by Audrey Sellers
Source: The Sunsama blog. Sunsama is a web-based daily task manager that combines task management, calendar scheduling and communication in one platform.
