Do you have trouble saying, "No?"
Are your boundaries a bit shaky?
Have a hard time delegating?
Is it challenging for you to figure out what to say, so you end up taking on more responsibilities than you can or should handle?
Many times situations come up that require a firm "No", but it can be hard to do so. Sometimes we don't want to let others down or we want to be thought of as a "team player." Other times we just get caught off guard and can't figure out the right words to say, or we react impulsively without taking the time to think through what we really want to convey.
Here is a great list by Futurethink that spells out 40 different ways to say "No". (Thank you to my client, J.A., for sharing this with me!)
Just a thought - be careful with (30) and (32) - you may need to follow those statements with one of the others suggested so that you don't leave the door open for lots of negotiation.
Also remember that you don't have to always give an immediate answer. You can always respond with, "Let me think about that and I will get back to you."
By buying yourself some time, you can really think about "why" you are saying no, and choose the appropriate response.
Have any of these worked for you? Are there any that you have tried and would stay away from? Any others that you would like to share?
I would love to hear your feedback!
All the best,
Debra
debralevy@alifethatfits.com
732-688-3060
Comments