The Monthly Huddle: Learning to Say No

Welcome to the May edition of The Monthly Huddle– A short, sweet, and to-the-point advice blog for tackling some of business management’s most difficult questions! This month, we’ll take a peek at three reasons why learning to say “No” can unlock more opportunities than always saying “Yes.” 

Business owners, business leaders, and anyone striving towards success often find it difficult to say “no.” Those same people are the ones who experience burnout, issues with time management, and anxiety that comes naturally when we have too many irons in the fire. 

An article by Glassdoor shared the following shocking statistic: 

“A recent survey of 1,300-plus people shows that 60 percent of us are overcommitted and have more on our to-do lists than we can reasonably accomplish. What’s more (and quite scary) is that the same number of people say they have more than 60 tasks on their weekly to-do lists, including work and personal commitments.”

There are only 24 hours in a day– eight of which we are supposed to spend sleeping– which means that in the sixteen waking hours we have left, we’re supposed to accomplish a task in every two hours or so, and that’s if we work seven days a week and only spend our time checking things off our to-do list!

But, if we know that taking on too much causes issues, why do so many people struggle to say a tiny, two-letter word?

Fear of Losing Opportunities

We may fear that turning down a project, task, or opportunity signals to the asker that we’re not interested in future opportunities or that our priorities aren’t in order. 

Be clear with the person that it’s not a refusal of opportunity but rather a commitment to doing things well. Let them know that when the time comes for you to work with them in the future, you intend to give them the same attention and respect you are giving your current obligations. It’s hard to argue the point and could put you on the right track to be seen as someone who is to be trusted with more significant opportunities later down the road. 

Fear of Disappointing Our Family, Employees, Business Partners, and Peers

When we turn down things we are being asked to do, it’s hard not to feel guilty for forcing the person to seek out other avenues to solve the problem. Those who revel in serving others find the idea of telling someone no virtually crippling, especially if they are praised for being a “Yes Man.”

Approach learning to say no not as a burden you’re placing on others, but as a means for you to do the things you’ve already committed to with a whole heart and a clear conscience. 

Agreeing to do too much only hurts people and your own productivity. It is a disservice to yourself and others when you spread yourself too thin. 

Fear of Appearing Lazy or Selfish

Sometimes, learning to say “no” feels a lot like saying, “I’d rather take the easy way out.” 

The flip side of that is that taking on things you can’t handle often leads to failure. Communicating that your plate is full requires a bit of grace, but don’t be afraid to be clear about the list of tasks you’re already handling, even if that includes tackling personal projects or outside activities. 

Once the person asking for help understands that you’d be happy to do it if you weren’t dealing with so many other obligations, they are more likely to express understanding and compromise versus assuming that you’re just unwilling to do whatever they are asking.