When to Say No
We’ve all been there – done that! Taken on one more thing to do when you could least afford the
time or energy to do it. You couldn’t say no! It had to be done, and since no one else would do it,
you stepped up to the plate. Well, guess what? You can SO say NO! You might not have to
JUST say NO, but you can.
The funny thing is most of us are geared to say yes we’ll help out no matter who asks, feeling we
were asked because we’re a valued volunteer. And you are, you just need to realize there really
are other people who can do the job besides you. Not sure you can really say it? Here are some
tips that might come in handy the next time you get asked.
You can always say you are in the middle of several projects and no one can fault you for having
a full plate already. And really, you don’t “owe” anyone an explanation in the first place. Another
similar reply is that you are not taking on any new responsibilities at that time. You aren’t saying
never, just not right now.
What if you have a “funny feeling” about what you’re being asked to do? Then try this one – a
simple, “I’m not comfortable with that.” It covers anyone of a number of concerns you may have
and keeps you out of a potentially sticky situation. Along with not feeling comfortable, you may
also feel you really aren’t qualified for the job. Just say so then – a simple I’m not the most
qualified person for the job covers it nicely. Saves you feeling overwhelmed later when you may
run into problems. Of course, if you’re being asked to do something you really don’t like, you can
say quite honestly you don’t enjoy that kind of work.
Here’s a few more ideas that might come in handy. If your calendar is chock full – say so, adding
a polite “I hate to split my attention among projects!” You can also plead another commitment.