Have you prepared yourself well to say NO, this powerful and necessary word, especially in times of overload for you, your team, your boss? Be careful, because it is also difficult to use, and potentially destructive. If you are ready, then go ahead: say “no”!
Always say yes before saying no! “Why not immediately jump to the ‘no’? Because, in a nutshell, success depends on giving your ‘no’ a strong foundation.”
Assert your intentions: “It’s no because I say so; that’s why!” This is the worst possible “no”. A good “no” both affirms a purpose and provides an explanation. Just like an initial “yes”. If your boss wants you to take on a new project, you might reply, “I am not taking on any new assignments right now because I already have a full workload. If you are still interested in a few weeks, I will be happy to consider it then.”
Stick to the facts: Always describe situations objectively to ensure that there is no reason to argue back. Avoid speaking subjectively and making comments like, “that’s stupid” or “that request is ridiculous”. Instead, use the pronoun “I” and describe your experience, feelings, and interests. For instance, “When (x) happens, I feel (y), because I need (z).”
Convey your values: You say yes to the things that are important to you. Generally speaking, this means your values as a human being, your moral and ethical values, etc. In the workplace, this means the value of your product, company, brand, etc.
She spent 12 years in industry, working for Bolloré Technologies, among others. She co-founded Business Digest in 1992 and has been running the company since 1998. And she took the Internet plunge in 1996, even before coming on board as part of the BD team.
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