8 Ways To Successfully Say 'No'

Jul 12, 2018 by apost team

Committing yourself to success in life also means saying 'no' sometimes. That can be intimidating, and also run the risk of alienating yourself. These 8 tricks will help you learn how to say 'no' with more confidence - and preserve important relationships in the process.

If you find yourself constantly making time for others, take a step back. Remember that you're just as valuable! You need to say 'no' sometimes to preserve your own schedule. It's a balance, though. Don't say "no" too often otherwise people will perceive you as selfish.

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Take care of your most important tasks first. However, managing your relationships is also critical. Consider the situation: does saying "no" jeopardize the time you're spending together?

If you're a timid person, just practice! Say "no" more frequently and it will become much easier over time. This skill is especially important with people who are really demanding. Stand up for yourself with them and just say "no"!

You shouldn't feel guilty for saying no. When you couch it with "sorry," you'll be perceived as weak. Be firm when you say it and don't crack under pressure.

Society has conditioned us to be nice all the time. Sure, there are some cases when you should be nice. However, if you're always that way, people might think you're just constantly flexible. They will begin to take advantage of that and make lots of requests that you simply can't address.

This one might be more tricky just because of social pressure. After all, your boss is in charge of your employment. Saying "no" to them might put your job at risk. Be polite about it. Explain your schedule and tell them that you need to manage your tasks. This way they know you aren't being wimpy. It could even help your career! Saying "no" at the appropriate moments shows your boss that you're a very organized person and know your limits. Standing up for yourself is a true leadership quality.

Make your life easier and stop requests before they even arrive. That way you might not have to say "no" at all! You need to be able to identify people who are very needy and are always coming to you with their problems. Tell them directly that you can't accept any incoming tasks at the moment. You might have to give them a specific time when you can address it later, though. But just saying "no" to them trains these people the same way it trains you. They will come to you less often, which isn't necessarily a bad thing!

Ah, yes, that tried-and-true phrase. It's "no" without saying that explicitly. Instead, it lets people down more gently. Using "let me get back to you" is a signal that you're still keeping someone's request in mind, but just can't take care of it at the moment.

You're more than a constant source of advice and support. You can't do everything at once! When you say "no," you're making yourself the first priority. If you like these tips pass them on to your friends and loved ones!