Saying no can be hard, especially if you want to be a team player, get along with co-workers, and be a reliable hard-working leader. However, you must learn how to say no in order to not burnout. In fact, one of the things I learned from Arianna Huffington at a recent keynote she delivered was “We must let go of the delusion that hard work ends in burnout.” So what gives? Well, all those things on your plate that you really can live without doing. It’s time to prioritize what is important to you and let go of those things that don’t serve you, your company, your team, and/or your relationships. If you are teetering on overwhelm and burnout, look at what you are saying yes to:
- Favors from people
- Fixing other people (especially if they didn’t ask)
- Volunteering for extra-curricular stuff that would take you further way from your primary purpose at work
After looking at what’s on your plate, you may have realized you’ve said yes more than absolutely necessary. You may have to finish what you’ve started, so from here on out, here’s what to say the next time someone asks you for a favor that you really don’t want to do. At the very least, you can buy yourself some time to cut down on the spontaneous corners you find yourself backed into by saying yes too quickly.
“I’d love to, but I’m swamped.”
“Thanks for thinking of me, but I’m all booked until next month.”
“Before I can commit, what exactly to you need and by when?”
“It depends. Let me know what you want and let me get back to you after I check my schedule.”
“I wish I could, but I can’t.”
Or, you can say No. Some people say that no is a complete sentence!
By the way, you can practice these answers on yourself the next time you’re tempted to add something to your already full plate.
From your just say yes to less motivational speaker,
Marilyn Sherman
