Leadership Tip

How to save time by saying no

What matters more: the amount of time you work or the results you produce? Any smart leader would say the latter. Yet, many people spend long, wasted hours at work. Learning to say 'no' is crucial for protecting your time and energy. While it might feel uncomfortable initially, setting boundaries is essential for your productivity and well-being. If you're struggling to keep control of your time and boost your performance, try doing these three things.

  1. Decline meetings. If you don't need to be there, don't accept the invitation. Explain your workload and request to see the meeting's minutes instead.
     
  2. Delete emails. Not all of them of course, but only keep and respond to the most important ones.
     
  3. Dial down your effort. If you can't say "no" to a certain request, recognise that it may only require a B+ effort. Don't spend time bumping it up to an A+ unless you really need to.

The above leadership tip...
was sent in response to a question from a participant on our acclaimed 10/10 leadership development and mentoring programme and was adapted from Stop Working All Those Hours by Robert Pozen. Whether you're a first time manager or an experienced leader, straightforward, practical advice on best practice is hard to find. Until now. To find out how you, your team or your organisation can benefit, please contact us.


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