How to Say No and Still Be the Nice Guy

By 41 Comments


Many times in our daily lives, we face situations, where we should say “no” to a request. However, we find it to be a very difficult thing to do.

We are afraid to think what others are saying if we decline. We might also think that saying “no” will hurt our relationship with that other person – permanently.

In most of the cases, those fears are unnecessary. They are just our imagination and in reality, nothing scary will happen, if we turn a request down.

Why you should decline from a request

There are many reasons why you should decline to do something, if you are being asked to.

• Increased productivity Saying “no” will increase your productivity, because you are not accepting any new work that would possibly distract you. Also, you are able to focus to your current tasks better, which ensures that they get done.

• Keep the deadlines You are much more likely to keep your deadlines if you say “no”.

For example, if you are about to deliver some work to a client, you want to keep the agreed deadlines. Saying “yes” to an external request might potentially increase your workload so much, that you don’t have enough capability of handling all the work in time.

• You are in control of your life If you have difficulties of saying “no”, then in the worst case others may take advantage of your kindness.

However, if you decide to say “no”, you are in control your life – not others. You decide what task to accept, what meetings to attend or what activities to participate on your free-time.

• You are true to your core values We all have core values that we live our life by. For example, honesty is one of those values that is very important for me. That’s why I would find difficult to commit to an activity, which requires me to lie.

Your inner voice will most likely advice you to say “no”, whenever your values are going to be violated.

• Less stress Closely related to productivity, saying “no” is also one way of decreasing your stress levels. When you are not overloaded with work and tight schedules, you have much less stress to handle.

That in turn affects positively to your well-being and happiness.

The right way to decline

Now that you learned about the benefits of saying “no”, you should also understand the different ways of saying “no” the right way.

These are the ways I have used myself. Although I’m not saying that declining becomes effortless by applying these tips, it still becomes easier.

1. Evaluate the situation When someone comes to you and asks you to do something, you have to evaluate the situation first.

Obviously, if the situation is critical and the other person is depending on your help (for example in a traffic accident), then it is natural to answer “yes”.

However, in normal, everyday situations the request is most likely much less severe (your colleague asks you to come for a drink after work), so you have both the options “yes” and “no” at your disposal.

Also, you most likely have more time to come up with a justification why you are going to say “no”.

2. Be discreet, but firm I tend to start my “no” answer in the form of “Unfortunately I’m unable to …” and then follow with the justification, why I’m not able to fulfill the request.

The main point here is to say “no” in a polite, but firm manner. Some people are very rude in their replies when they decline and that kind of behavior leaves me cold every time.

Although in those cases the message (denial) comes very clear, I still prefer the softer and more polite way of saying things.

3. Say your opinion clearly enough Truly mean what you say. Your answer should be a definite “no”, not a “maybe”. Don’t leave other people wondering what you mean by your answer.

Say your answer in a clear and loud enough manner, so that the other person understands your point at once.

4. Be honest When you say “no”, be honest with your reasonings. Don’t make up reasons why you are not willing to fulfill the request. When you are caught lying, it is embarrassing to yourself.

Also, if the other person happens to be your colleague or friend that you lied to, it will have negative consequences to your relationships.

5. Be selfish This last point is perhaps the most important one when it comes to saying “no”. The thing is that

if the other person has a right to present you a request, you have the equal right to say “no” as an answer.

Also, you should also reflect your own situation to that request before you answer; Are you willing to fully commit to it, does it fit to your schedules and are you capable of handling the request in the first place.

Conclusion

I try to keep these tips and techniques as my guidelines when I evaluate a request – and when I decide to say “no”.

It is understandable, that saying “no” is not the easiest thing to do at times. But at the same time, if you are polite and honest, it is much easier this way.

However, this doesn’t mean that I’m saying “no” all the time. In fact, sometimes you have to say “yes” as an answer. This depends of course from the situation you are in.

By carefully evaluating the situation first before answering, is the right way to move on in that that scenario.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Filed Under: Guest Authors, Productivity, Relationships, Tips for a better life Tagged With: , , , , , ,
About Timo Kiander

Timo Kiander, a.k.a. Productive Superdad, teaches WAHD superdad productivity for work at home dads. If you want to get more productive in your own life, grab 222 of his best Tips for Becoming a Productivity Superstar.

Comments

  1. Hiten says:
    December 28, 2011 at 9:50 pm

    Great post Timo. There is something very liberating with saying no. And I agree it can be critical when meeting deadlines.

    Reply
  2. Lyka Ricks says:
    December 23, 2011 at 7:55 am

    Saying “No” doesn’t mean you’re taking it on the other side or negatively. You just have to be Honest enough to know what’s good, what’s right for you. Sincere No plus Reasonable Reasons will help you make them understand your thoughts.
    Lyka Ricks recently posted..Famous Volcanoes in the World

    Reply
  3. J Bucher says:
    December 21, 2011 at 2:08 am

    I recently had someone say “no” to me after she changed her mind about taking a volunteer position. The “no” was not a problem, in fact I was glad she said “no”. The problem was what came after the word “no”. Saying “no” does not mean you have to tear the other person down to justify your saying “no”. The other person declined the position and then proceeded to tell me how little she thought of me, how much more busy she was than me, and that her time was so much more valuable than mine. In that moment a friendship was destroyed.

    Say “no”, mean it, but you don’t have to justify it.

    Reply
  4. Naveen Kulkarni says:
    December 19, 2011 at 7:54 am

    Excellent post.
    This reminded me of my article called ” The Incredible Benefits of Saying No” which I posted on unlockthedorr.net

    Below is the link
    http://unlockthedoor.net/benefits-say-no/
    Naveen Kulkarni recently posted..Release

    Reply
  5. Noel says:
    December 17, 2011 at 3:42 am

    It’s very hard to say ‘no’ because it seems like a negative word and it’s like not good to turn down other people’s offer when they are actually expecting a ‘yes’ from us. Sometimes the feeling of guiltiness and fear of hurting other people’s feeling just overtake our real intention – to decline. But you’re right, we’re suppose to take control of our life and choose what works good for us. So thanks Timo, I enjoyed your useful tips :)
    Noel recently posted..Inspirational Ecards

    Reply
  6. Stuart says:
    December 16, 2011 at 4:05 pm

    Hi Timo,

    A very intelligent post, one which I could do with reading more than once!

    Saying “no” is just as important as saying “yes” – we must exercise our ability and our right to say both of these words, as living too much in one field means we’re out of balance. Balance is key to a healthy life, and so balancing the yes and the no means that we live healthily.

    Thanks for sharing Timo!
    Stuart recently posted..The Only Fit That’s Perfect

    Reply
  7. Timo Kiander says:
    December 16, 2011 at 7:38 am

    Tahlia,

    Yes, it makes sense. Saying yes when you really mean it and when you are capable of keeping your promises.

    Thanks for the insight!

    Cheers,
    Timo
    Timo Kiander recently posted..40 Years – 40 Time Management Lessons I Have Learned Over The Years – Part 2 [pdf]

    Reply
  8. Tahlia Newland says:
    December 15, 2011 at 11:26 pm

    All good ways to help us say no when we need to, I don’t think saying no needs to be seen as being selfish though becasue if we say ‘yes’ when we should say no, theother person migt end up wishing we hadn’t. eg, if you aren’t well enough to do something, but you say yes, you’re likely to do it badly, or miserably etc. Sometimes it’s best for both the asker and the replier that the replier says no. I hope that makes sense.
    Tahlia Newland recently posted..How well did you do?

    Reply
  9. Ken Wert says:
    December 14, 2011 at 4:53 pm

    I have been known to get myself in a pinch on this one. I genuinely want to help others. And while I have no problem saying no when I know I can’t do something, my only problem is I sometimes overbook myself, forgetting about a previously scheduled appointment. So for me, being more self-aware, perhaps putting my calendar items on my phone so I can avoid my own time management tangles is the solution.
    Ken Wert recently posted..Random Acts of Wisdom II: Living by Principles

    Reply
  10. Jen says:
    December 14, 2011 at 3:01 pm

    Hi! So funny I find myself here after just posting a blog about saying YES to my life!

    The way I look at it, technically we say YES to ourselves by turning down events, invitations, or opportunities that do not fit in our busy schedules.

    I said YES before for all the wrong reasons. I was overworked, over committed, and broken. When I recognized a few years later that by limiting what I say YES to, I was able to better be present, fully engaged, and committed to what I ‘signed up’ for!

    So, by saying NO, we really say YES to all the important stuff.
    Wonderful tips here, thank you so much for writing.
    In Harmony,
    Jen ♫
    Jen recently posted..A Redneck Christmas?

    Reply
  11. Sandra / Always Well Within says:
    December 14, 2011 at 3:12 am

    I have a hard time saying “no” so these tips are very welcome! I agree that being gentle and polite, but clear are the way to go. Thanks.
    Sandra / Always Well Within recently posted..One Powerful Word 2012: A Simple Approach to New Year’s Resolutions

    Reply
  12. Clint Cora says:
    December 13, 2011 at 3:41 pm

    An additional way as well is to say ‘no’ but offer an alternative or a suggestion to the person. It shows that you still care even though you are not available to directly help. Sometimes your alternative or suggestion will be a better solution for that person which will be a win-win for all.

    Reply
  13. David says:
    December 13, 2011 at 2:26 am

    Hi Timo,
    Certainly knowing when to say “No” is a great positive as is knowing when to “yes”…..it can be a balancing act, it comes down to the timing. Thank you &
    be good to yourself
    David
    David recently posted..Living Life Today – When your day feels like a “bummer”

    Reply
  14. Galen Pearl says:
    December 12, 2011 at 9:05 pm

    I’ve learned that I can be a “person of yes” and still say no. Right now, after a very busy fall, I’m saying no (nicely) to all requests that involve any commitment or responsibility, except social fun, until after the new year.
    Galen Pearl recently posted..The Good Old Days

    Reply
  15. subhorup dasgupta says:
    December 12, 2011 at 3:04 pm

    For people who are committed to helping others, saying no can be a real challenge. For some, saying no is synonymous with refusing someone to share in your time and expertise. This is also one of the reasons that the helping profession, for example, has one of the highest burnout rates. You have put out the argument for saying no in a very convincing manner. The techniques you have compiled allso come across as very effective. Thanks for the light.
    subhorup dasgupta recently posted..How to Cook Like a Masterchef

    Reply
  16. Daniel Daramola says:
    December 12, 2011 at 1:57 pm

    Sir, you are very Correct,this article deals with the common challenge i and every other person face day to day home and at work.great article thanks for sharing this beautiful secret. God bless you

    Reply
  17. Justin Mazza says:
    December 12, 2011 at 1:17 pm

    So true Timo. I thought that I always had to say “yes” to everyone’s request but now I know that I always have the choice to do so.

    For many saying No is extremely difficult to do but with a litle practice it gets much easier. And like you said, it is a form of self control.
    Justin Mazza recently posted..What is Life Asking of Me

    Reply
  18. Steven Aitchison says:
    December 12, 2011 at 12:43 pm

    Hi Timo

    Welcome to CYT, it’s a great pleasure to have you write an article for us.

    I think your article is a great one and very important if we want to learn more about ourselves. Saying ‘No’ gives us confidence within ourselves as well as the 5 points you have listed here.

    It takes guts to say No, but with practice it becomes easier and more natural. I think the first few tiems we do this, we come across as apologetic, and a bit wimpy :) which means the No can be turned into a Yes very easily. However the more we practice this the better we get at it, and a No will mean No!

    thanks for a great article Timo, hopefully we’ll see you back here again soon.
    Steven Aitchison recently posted..Nominations for Top 50 Personal Development Blogs of 2011

    Reply
  19. saranya says:
    December 12, 2011 at 12:34 pm

    thank you very much for your guidelines

    Reply
  20. Jason Scott says:
    December 12, 2011 at 12:29 pm

    This was a great, reassuring post. Saying “no” doesn’t make you a bad person. One thing I like to do is ensure the requester knows that “no” now doesn’t mean “no” always. I smile and tell them to “Never stop asking me for help. You might get yes the next time.” It goes a long way for keeping relationships intact. Just make sure you keep your word and help when you can.
    Jason Scott recently posted..Motivational Masters No. 1

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Why Using This Common Excuse is a Perfect Way to Protect Your Time says:
    October 24, 2012 at 12:57 pm

    [...] problem was saying “yes”too easily to requests. This way he can keep his “good guy” status alive and he doesn’t have [...]

    Reply
  2. 4 Ways of Keeping Time Thieves at Bay says:
    October 10, 2012 at 5:46 am

    [...] Learn to say no. Finally, learn to say no. Although it can be challenging, it’s doable. What matters the most is how you do it. [...]

    Reply
  3. SimpleProductivityBlog.com—Are You Infected With "Lack of Time" Virus? How To Get Rid Of It - SimpleProductivityBlog.com— says:
    September 24, 2012 at 7:51 am

    [...] on a continuous basis. I know, saying “no” is not the easiest thing in the world, but when doing it properly, it can be [...]

    Reply

Speak Your Mind

*

CommentLuv badge