Saying ‘no’
(www.myorganizedbiz.com) - It’s so easy to over-schedule ourselves. What I’m hearing from many of you is how hard it is to balance everything. We are all busy: work, family, kids, pets, friends, hobbies, and more.
With the internet allowing us to stay in touch everyone and everything, our connectedness can actually get overwhelming. And we want to please everyone, too.
We want to give our clients what they want and need. We need our colleagues to get what they need, in case we later need their help. We provide our employees with many things, too. And then there are the family obligations. How can we be all things to all of these people?
We can’t. If you over-schedule, over-commit and over-promise, it’s possible that you’ll fail somewhere. The answer is as simple as a 1980s anti-drug campaign slogan (thank you, Nancy Reagan): Just Say No.
What? We can’t say no when we’re trying to make a living! But we must. If you don’t have the time to take care of yourself and your needs, you’re doing too much. If your family is threatening to cut you off from the internet, your computer, or something from your work, maybe you need to stop and re-evaluate.
It’s okay to occasionally say no. You can’t do everything, nor be all things to all people. Think hard about all of the projects on your plate. What’s most urgent? Most important? What will give you the most return for your time?
Once you’ve thought about this and can articulate an answer, it’s time to look at your time commitments. We all have the same time allotments. It’s all about how we divide it up.
You know your strengths and your weaknesses. Is there something you’re struggling with because you thought you could handle it, but you can’t? See if you can bow out gracefully. You’ll be amazed at how relieved you feel afterwards.
It can be hard to say no. Start with something small, like doing an errand that you really don’t have time for. That sense of relief you feel after you say no? Remember it so you can do it again when something bigger comes along that you really don’t have time to commit to, but feel bad about turning down.
We’re not talking about making sweeping changes in your lifestyle or your way of working. Little steps. Start arranging your time a little differently. See how that feels. And then go from there. As you build your confidence, you’ll be ready to experiment more.
Image: Becky Scott
Tags: just say no, managing commitments, Time Management, you can't be everything to everyoneRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Time Management, Time off
2 opinions for Saying ‘no’
Lauren - OfficeArrow
Jul 16, 2008 at 6:56 am
Great article. I’ve found myself in similar situations where I have way too much on my plate and saying no becomes a necessity.
As far as the ‘right’ way to say no in the workplace, I am always as professional and respectful as possible. Also, it helps to provide the reason for saying no so be honest. If possible, offer alternatives and show the person your sincere desire to solve the problem. If you feel uncomfortable, you can always discuss the matter with your supervisor.
Becky
Jul 16, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Most of us are the supervisor, owner, or only employee of our companies. But I do understand what you’re saying.
You can definitely find respectful ways to say no. But you have to learn to say it.
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