SMART STRATEGIES WHY9 andTO SAY “NO”

By Abdurrahman Q. AlQahtani

Learning how to say “No” is part of success

it’s sometimes hard to understand WHY and HOW to effectively say it.

BUT

Learning to Say “No” Is Part of Success by Ed Batista (HBR)

To learn to say “No” you need to

ADMIT IT PRACTICE IT&

ADMIT ITWhy do you tend to say “Yes” ?!

Excitement for the call of

help

Fear of losing opportunities

Embarrassment for turning others

down

Willing to prove

yourself

So you jump to saying “yes” simply to Please yourself or others!

ADMIT IT

Distraction from your core mission

You have limited time and resources

Being the “Jack of all trades,

Master of none”

so simply shrinking the window of achieving what you really should do!

Why would you sometimes regret saying “Yes” ?!

PRACTICE IT

Well Before During AfterBe Reflective

Be Prepared

Be Futuristic

Be Conservative

Be Opportunistic

Be Assertive

Be Authentic

Be Creative

Be Empathetic

1 4

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9

7

2

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> >with the following 9 smart strategies

WELL BEFORE

the request comes in and the moment of thinking and deciding whether to say “yes”

or “no” …

REFLECTIVEBe and

This will help you understand how much more you can take on!

1

Reflect and plan your agenda

What fills your schedule?

What makes you busy?

deeply understand what stuffs your agenda

PREPAREDBe and

This will prepare you to decide to (or not to) answer a request

2

Don’t wait for the moment where you cannot decide

Keep your mission on

check

Have a simple qualification check for opportunities

clarify you mission and priorities

FUTURISTICBe and

This will help others how to approach you and for what kind of asks

3

Highlight your roles & responsibilities

Talk about your work

Talk about your interests

advertise your work and agenda

DURING

the moment of request where you’re about to say “yes”

or “no” …

CONSERVATIVEBe and

This will equip you with the needed time and resources to fulfill

4

Ask for resources to help you with the

request

Have it on your own terms

Clarify consequences on what you do now

gracefully & conditionally say “yes”

OPPORTUNISTICBe and

This will enable you to expand on worlds beyond your own

5

Realign it with your own mission and

priorities

From a request to an

opportunity

Exploit for your own (good)

agenda

reframe the request to serve your work

ASSERTIVEBe and

This will help others to accept the fact and plan alternatives timely

6

Don’t drag, but rather say it fast

When deeply sure you should say no

Do it with a great attitude of

assertiveness

kindly & firmly say “no”

AFTERthe moment where

you’ve said “no” …

AUTHENTICBe and

This will help others to understand: it is “no” this time only!

7

Deeply show your regret

Express your gratitude for being

approached

Remind others of your mission and priorities

deeply & genuinely explain “why no”

CREATIVEBe and

This will raise the odds that you will still be approached next time

8

Channel the request to someone who can (or

should!)

Show that you want to help

Give recommendations

along the way

give alternative solutions and channels

EMPATHETICBe and

This will help you keep the bridge in case “no” was a hard answer

9

Remotely observe the requester and the request

Even if you have said NO

Connect and check on progress

follow up and show that you care

this is not about brutally saying “NO!”

neither about recklessly saying “YES!”

REMEMBER

it’s about being prepared, choosing a smart answer, and having the right

attitude and commitment

Happy and mindful decisions!

Background photo by mayanais, and colors credit goes to addabarrios

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Abdurrahman Q. AlQahtani - Consultant and Coach - aq@knowledge-passion.com