Ever had a situation where you want to say ‘no thanks’ but you found it challenging to do so? You may have feared disappointing the person or being rejected. Or, maybe, you were feeling selfish or guilty for saying no to the ask.
I believe we all find ourselves in the situation where we want to say ‘no thanks’ but somehow the words “yes” leaves our mouth.
Just this past week …
I reconnected with an old friend and found myself agreeing to something I knew in my heart I didn’t have time to do. I felt like it would be selfish to say no and I always want to be able to help people as much as possible. But when I sat down and reflected, I realised not only did I not have the time but I wasn’t the best person to help.
The trouble with saying ‘Yes’
The trouble with saying ‘yes’ all the time is you find yourself pulled in many different directions taking you away from important goals. Trying to do it all often results in feeling overwhelmed, exhausted and everything only being ‘part’ done.
The power of saying ‘no’ allows you to share more of your energy, passion and talents to the world. You have more time to do the things that matter the most to you.
But often saying ‘no’ is a lot easier in our heads than in real life. We are counting down our top 5 ways to say ‘no thanks’:
5 Ways to Say ‘No’
#5 “I can’t today. How about [insert new schedule]?”
Rather than letting this railroad your day, let the individual know that you can help them, but not right away.
#4 “I can’t do that, but I could do ….”
You may not be able to help with the entire task but there maybe things you could do instead. For example, if someone asked you to organise an event, you could offer to help with one component like the decorations, keeping track of RSVPs or helping with set-up.
#3 “I have to check my schedule, let me get back to you in a day or so.”
We say ‘yes’ a lot when we are in the moment, rather than taking time to reflect and determine if we can actually add the task to our schedule. Instead of answering right away, let them know you need to check a few things first and will get back to them shortly.
#2 “I cannot help you out, but I would suggest talking to <<insert name>>, as they may be able to help you out.”
Have you ever been asked to help someone knowing that you were not the perfect one for the job? Next time, suggest someone to the individual who could be a great fit!
#1 “Thank you so much for thinking of me! I’m sorry. I’m not able to help you at this time.”
Our favourite way to say no thank you is with gratitude. Including a reflection on how you feel is a great way to let the individual know that you appreciate them. You just can’t help them right now.
Now it’s your turn, let us know in the comment below your best strategies on saying no.
Don’t delay, start today
Sara
