Knowing how to say no at work is an essential skill. Knowing how to do it when job insecurity is rife is even more vital. There are three reasons why saying yes to all requests is a bad idea.
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First, it can obviously lead to exhausting workloads.
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Second, being overwhelmed and knackered raises the chances of making mistakes.
- But most importantly, saying no can help make you influential and indispensable – which is invaluable in these insecure times.
The most valued people in the office are not the ones who take on the heaviest workloads or are the best at office politics, but those who demonstrate their worth by being easy to work with and competent. That means sticking to what you’re good at, rationing your time - in short, knowing when to say no. Just bluntly saying no could be counter-productive, of course, but you can learn to say it in a way that is respected. Come up with a plausible alternative that will satisfy whoever is asking you to do something. Or just dispense with all sugar-coating, but politely spell out precisely why you will not be saying yes.
The above leadership tip...
was sent in response to a question from a participant on our acclaimed 10/10 leadership development and mentoring programme. 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 join us on our next complimentary webinar or contact us.
HOW TO THRIVE IN THESE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES
As part of the government's business support package announced last week, we have been awarded funding to deliver our acclaimed 10/10 leadership development and mentoring programme "live and online" to help those now working from home. This 10-week cyclical programme, leading to the award of a certificate in leadership development, offers cutting-edge insights into change, resilience, wellbeing, motivation, teams, communication, strategy, influencing, effectiveness and self-awareness. READ MORE
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