{"id":1781,"date":"2012-10-12T12:07:59","date_gmt":"2012-10-12T16:07:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.123print.com\/?p=1781"},"modified":"2016-12-29T15:00:28","modified_gmt":"2016-12-29T15:00:28","slug":"know-no","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.123print.com\/blog\/know-no\/","title":{"rendered":"Know No"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"HelloHow well do you know the term, \u201cno\u201d? Do you say it often enough? I don\u2019t. In fact, this blog was due to go up on Tuesday of this week, but I said \u201cyes,\u201d to too many other things, which made it impossible to meet that deadline.<\/p>\n

The best way to make friends with no is to understand what your yes really means. If you say yes, when you would rather say no:
\n\u2022 You aren\u2019t likely to enjoy doing what you said yes to
\n\u2022 You don\u2019t have that time to do something else you wanted to do
\n\u2022 You can become overcommitted and stressed out<\/p>\n

But saying no isn\u2019t easy. For one thing, you\u2019re a good person and you would probably like to help. No one wants to alienate others or be seen as being rude or selfish, but a no answer can have those results. You may not like conflict either, and sometimes no can create an uncomfortable environment. Another reason telling someone no can be hard is that it might mean you won\u2019t be asked to assist at some point in the future when you have the time and desire to say yes.<\/p>\n

Overcome the Barriers<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

All of these obstacles to saying no are why too many of us too often say yes when we really mean no. So how can we change that?<\/p>\n

Get your priorities straight.<\/strong> Is this possible new obligation important to you? If not, just say no.<\/p>\n

Be realistic about the time commitment.<\/strong> If it won\u2019t take you long and you have the time, maybe you can afford to say yes? But be honest about what you have time to do.<\/p>\n

Stop and think.<\/strong> Don\u2019t blurt out an answer right away. Tell them you need to look at your schedule and that you\u2019ll get back to them.<\/p>\n

5 Great Tips On How to Say No<\/strong><\/span> (Plus a link to a cat video!)<\/p>\n

Now that you\u2019ve rationally assessed your ability to take on a new responsibility, what do you do? Obviously if you have concluded it\u2019s doable, saying yes will be easy. But if you know no is the right answer, how do you break the news?<\/p>\n

1. Just Do It<\/strong> \u2014 Say it. Say, \u201cno.\u201d It\u2019s a powerful word and much better than using a wishy-washy phrase like, \u201cI don\u2019t think so\u201d or \u201cnot this time.\u201d And in case you think you can\u2019t do it, check out this video of a cat saying no<\/a>. If he can do it, so can you!<\/p>\n

2. Mean It, But Don\u2019t be Mean<\/strong> \u2014 I had an elementary teacher who could say the toughest things in the nicest way so that no one ever felt bad. Think firm, but polite. Bring out your inner teacher.<\/p>\n

3. Get to the Point<\/strong> \u2014 Say no, and say why you\u2019re saying no, but don\u2019t belabor the point. Short and sweet is best. Rationalizing or justifying why you\u2019re saying isn\u2019t necessary.<\/p>\n

4. Tell the Truth<\/strong> \u2014 Even if the person making the request isn\u2019t a close friend, colleague or family member, they deserve your respect. Be honest about why you\u2019re saying no.<\/p>\n

5. Stick to Your Guns<\/strong> \u2014 Once you\u2019ve gotten up the courage to say no, don\u2019t waffle. Whether they pout, pose the question another way or try to counter your \u201cwhy,\u201d just repeat your no \u2014 as often as they need to hear it. Maintain the firm and polite tone the whole time.<\/p>\n

Now you have some tools and rules to step up and start saying no more often. This should help bring some life balance. And be honest. What is the worst thing that can happen if you say no? Will someone hit you? Will you lose a friendship or a job? It\u2019s not likely if you follow the steps above. Take the time to prioritize and then be honest and firm about why you\u2019re saying no. People will understand and respect your decision.<\/p>\n

So the idea is: get to know no. You\u2019ll likely be healthier and happier for it. And if you have more good suggestions to help others say no, please leave a comment below.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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