Recently I have found myself grateful for a new tactic and strategy that has single handedly improved my ability to deliver. Before I tell you about it, let me start by explaining something about myself – I like to help people and I like to feel needed and important. I’m sure if I posed this as a question to an audience, many would raise their hands and admit that they share this trait, especially the aspect of “feeling needed.”
Sadly, this is also why sometimes I’ll take on more than I should and I’ll get “stressed” or even frustrated with projects or clients. The ability to say No when we don’t have the capability to deliver on something at a particular time, or when we feel disrespected in a business deal, or even when our boundaries are pushed in a negative direction, is very important for success and peace of mind.
Saying no doesn’t mean that you’re admitting to failure or that you can’t deliver. You’re just managing other’s expectations and making sure that you don’t promise when you can’t deliver. Saying No could also mean letting someone know that you’re interested but it’s not the right time and if they are willing to wait, you may be able to assist at a later date or time that would be more convenient for your schedule. Here are some situations where the word No adds value to my life:
I.The Ambush: Think about a situation where you meet someone in an elevator, on the street or some other public place and they want to get into a lengthy discussion on a business project and even assign you tasks that they want help with. These situations frustrate because they impact on time management…you end up having too many unplanned meetings or accepting a task / project before you have time to assess and think about it. While it’s good to be flexible and ready for opportunity, I like to politely say No to an ambush and ask the other party to send an email or schedule a meeting at a convenient time
II.Totally Random Friday Fun: Friday fun is perfectly okay if that’s your thing, however when you had planned to do something different that’s also more productive or even decided to take a break from the night life and relax at home, then the word No is the way to go
III.Managing Projects: Each of us has a different thresh hold in terms of multitasking on projects and we need to recognize when saying yes to every project impacts our ability to deliver on any one.
IV.Sweet and Sour Deals: In business, it’s important to learn to say No when a client’s demands are too risky or can lead to financial loss no matter how “sweet” the deal looks.
The next time you’re feeling ambushed or overwhelmed and you need to manage a situation simply remember that it’s also okay to say No.
