Setting Boundaries at Work Part 3: How to Say No

Posted on May 31, 2011 by Mark Strong, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.

Many people experience a great deal of fear when they need to say no to a project. Therefore, they say yes instead because it is the path of least resistance in the moment.

As discussed in our previous blog, even when you know the best thing for you is to say no, the act itself can be arduous for even the most assertive of individuals. It is in these awkward situations that fear takes over. But the line must be drawn.

Here are some things to keep in mind that can make saying no a gentler, more positive experience:

-Know that it’s okay to say no. Give yourself that permission.

-You don’t have to go into detail about why you are saying no. You can simply state that you regret that you will be unable to help on this particular project.

-Offer an alternative. Suggest other ways your coworker can get help or other resources he/she may not have considered.

-If someone doesn’t accept your decline, consider getting your boss involved. Everyone’s plate gets overfilled sometimes and we all need a little help clearing things off.

It may be very uncomfortable to say no at first, especially if you’ve always said yes and are a self-proclaimed doormat. But fear not; the discomfort will pass.

The most important thing to remember is that boundaries are there to protect you and no one is going to enforce them except you.

Have the courage to say no when you need to say no.

For more Mark Strong Coaching articles, please visit www.markstrongcoaching.com/media.php.