How to Say "No" Without Upsetting Your Coworkers
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In the previous article, we learned the importance of saying "no". It is more crucial if you're a manager, as you have a lot of responsibilities, and there are situations where you need to say "no."
In this article, we will explain the art of saying "no" without upsetting our coworkers.
Be diplomatic and set your boundaries.
Follow these four tips when you need to say no in the workplace:
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- Give yourself 24 hours before replying. You want to give yourself enough time to think over the request. Check your schedule and make sure your priorities are not disrupted by it.
- Do not overdo your apology. Politely yet firmly explain your reasons for declining.
- Do not waste your time. Do not accept tasks that rob you of your time, such as unnecessary meetings.
- Set your boundaries. Let your colleagues know if the job does not fall under your scope of duties.
There are ways to politely say no.
Six methods to politely say "no."
If you are an experienced manager, you probably know the problem of being barraged with requests for advice and help. Yet it is not easy to politely decline a task without risking your reputation. Here's how to politely say "no":
Postpone: "I am occupied with work at the moment. Can you please come back later?" This statement makes it clear that you are restricted when it comes to time. If they return later, you know they are serious about speaking with you.
Refer: "I am not qualified enough to work on this task. But, maybe this will help." If the topic is out of your area of expertise, you do not need to advise them.
Introduce: "I am not the best person to speak to about this issue, but, I know someone who could help." If you know Someone who's an expert in that specific area, you could direct them to that person.
Connect: "You both have the same goals." Introduce the colleague to others with similar interests. They could forge a new relationship and tackle the issue together.
Delegate: "Why don't you set up a meeting with my assistant." If you have an assistant, you can delegate the first meeting to them as they will be able to determine the relevant issues.
Two for One: "Someone else has asked a similar question. Why don't we all meet together and go over it." This situation calls for a group meeting so that you can answer all the questions once and for all.
If you're already handling a lot of work, saying no to other tasks is necessary.
The first few times cannot be easy. But once you got the hang of it, you will no longer be afraid to decline requests politely. You will set healthy barriers in place and be happier at work.
Set a goal for how often you would like to say no in the next week and stick to it.
Source: Experteer
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