214 / BECOMING MORE EFFECTIVE
Saying “no”
Successful people know what they want and how they are going to get
it, and say “no” when what they are being asked to do doesn’t fit in with
their plans. Being successful is as much about what you decide not to
do as what you decide to do.
Maintaining a balance
We all have to keep a balance in our lives. You have
to balance what your employer wants from you with
what you get from your employer. The latter doesn’t
only mean money, but also the training you receive,
the experience you get, and the opportunities that
working for the company opens up for your career.
Assessing work time
You also have to balance your working life and your
family life. If you want to get ahead, the company
you work for will expect some commitment and
flexibility, but you do not have to be a doormat.
Decide how much time you are willing to give to
the company and how much you will keep for your
family, and then stick to it consistently. There will
be times when intensive effort is required and
you may have to put in long hours, but if
your employer doesn’t reciprocate,
you should consider your position.
STRIKE A
BALANCE
Fight the urge to
work long hours
to try to impress
your bosses. For
a senior position,
employers prefer
a well-rounded
individual to
a workaholic.
Tip
Decide how much
time you are
willing to give
to the company
and how much
you will keep for
your family, and
then stick to it
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SAYING “NO” / 215
Getting it right
Use your judgment to assess when and
how often you say no. It doesn’t look
good if you are seen as someone who
always says no, or who only says no to
the difficult jobs, so make sure that you
get the balance right. When saying no is
appropriate, do so quickly and politely.
Evaluating the project
You may sometimes find yourself in the
situation where colleagues try to offload
work on to you because they don’t want
to do it themselves, and they see you as
being accommodating enough to do their
work for them. If this happens, think very
carefully before you accept. Assess the
situation: if there really is a crisis and you
can help, then of course you should do
so. However, if there are no good reasons
and you feel the other person may make
a habit of offloading their work, you
should say no. Do this politely but firmly.
Do not make complicated excuses, just
say something like: “I’m sorry, but I
can’t help out this time. I have a heavy
workload myself.”
THINK IT THROUGH
Think about the impact your
decision to say no could have.
For example, if your boss or
a friend is in serious trouble,
saying no to helping out could
damage your relationship
with them.
Tip
ASK YOURSELF…
YES NOWhat’s in it for me?
1 Am I doing this because I have to, rather than because I want to?
2 If I have to do it, will I get something in return? ..............................
3 If I have to do it, can I make the task more enjoyable,
or develop the task to align more with my goals? ..........................
4 If I have to do it, will I receive recognition? .....................................
5 If I do this, will it help me achieve my goals
and ambitions? ..................................................................................
6 If I do this, will it give me an experience that can go
on my résumé? ..................................................................................
7 If I do it, how can I maximize the benefit? .......................................
8 If I say no, will there be consequences? ..........................................
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