The Power Of The Word "NO"
Author: Carol Halsey

There are several good time management tools, and one of the best is the word, “no.” Why is it that we have such a hard time saying this small, two-letter word? If you are overloaded with work, overstressed, and continuously working overtime just to keep up, it may be because you do not say “no” often enough.

Let’s make a distinction here between attempting too much and the inability to say no. Those who attempt too much usually think they can do it all. They have so much confidence about this, they actually offer to take on more and more tasks and projects. They think it makes them look like super achievers. But they are setting themselves up for a great deal of stress, and possibly failure. These people usually have no priorities and therefore cannot distinguish between the important and the unimportant. So they believe that everything has to be done. What a recipe for stress!!!

Being unable to say no, is either because of not knowing how, having the need to please, or being afraid of offending. As a result, it is easier to say yes to requests that should realistically be turned down, because it means taking on more workload than can be efficiently handled.

An organized person will clearly know their goals, the job responsibilities that they alone are accountable for, and understand their priorities. It is much easier, then, to say no to taking on new tasks or projects which do not fit into their goals, job responsibilities, and is not one of their priorities.

Losing site of your own priorities can be the biggest, single cause of always saying yes. It is most important to say yes to your commitments first. Have clear knowledge of the priorities for your own responsibilities. Then when you are asked, you can make the best decision based on your own goals and priorities, and point them out to back up your reason for saying no to a request.

How do you say no to your boss? Your response to requests and unreasonable deadlines is to remind your boss that the other projects and tasks you are working on are basically for him/her. Explain your current work load and ask the boss to decide where the new assignment should fall in the list of assignments you are currently involved in for him/her. Let your boss decide the priorities and possibly the deadlines for each, so you manage the work based on his/her priorities. There is no way your boss can find this offensive, as you are putting him/her in charge of making the decision, and you haven’t really said yes or no. This is the smartest thing you can do. I would venture to say that most bosses would rather have a few tasks done well than many tasks done half way or sloppily.

Saying no is just as important in your personal life. Finding yourself so busy with organizations, committees and kids sports can be just as stressful. Again, decide which are most important to you now, and which you are enthusiastic about but can put off until another time. This will help you say no when one more person comes to you asking you to volunteer for yet another project or committee. Or your children want to join one more activity or play one more sport.

©2002 Carol Halsey






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Carol Halsey is Founder and President of Business Organizing Solutions. She is a professional organizer, consultant, speaker, and author of "93 Organizing Tips to Simplify Your Business Life." You can get this booklet, articles and ideas on how to get 14 hours work out of an 8 hour day, simply by visiting her web site: http://www.PilesToFiles.com. Subscribe to her free organizing newsletter, “Organizing Ideas,” sent twice a month.

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