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Read time: 3 mins
Saying "NO" to your boss can feel like you're risking your career.
We want to convince you otherwise.
Today we're sharing 3 strategies on how to say 'NO' and get ahead in your career at the same time.
Let's get into it:
In today's business environment, your boss almost always plays a key role in your raises and promotions.
Because of this, you want to be helpful when you get requests and directions.
But it's not that easy, right?
Sometimes your boss asks for stuff that's not good for the team.
Or the business.
Or you.
You know saying "NO" makes sense.
But you don't know HOW to say it.
Here's the first sentence to remember:
"Saying NO means saying YES to something else."
We want you to help frame your "NO" in a way that gets a better outcome for your team, your business, and for you - without showing any disrespect to your boss.
3 STRATEGIES TO SAY 'NO' EFFECTIVELY
1. Have the right intent:
Think about the reason you're saying no and the intent behind it.
Maybe there's a more effective alternative that should be considered that would benefit the business more.
Maybe the team will have too many competing priorities and risk compromising the quality of their output.
Once you've clarified this, communicate that intent.
You could say:
"There are some risks given the team's current workload, and I want to help you get the best outcome. Would you be open if I shared a few alternatives to consider?"
2. Frame it from your boss' perspective:
By putting on your boss's hat, you are much more likely to convince them of another solution or understand challenges you may not have considered.
You could say:
"Putting on your hat, you would probably be considering A, B, and C. Based on that, this alternative could be more effective. What are your thoughts? Is there anything I haven't considered?"
3. Give options:
Often, saying yes to a request from your boss means other work gets deprioritised.
But your boss doesn't know every detail of your workload.
It's your job to help them understand the consequences of the reprioritising that you'll have to do.
Help them by explaining the impact of saying yes, and ask them to discuss the priorities with you.
When you do this, your boss has a fuller picture of your workload, understands the impact of the new request, and can be part of the decision-making on:
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What to stop
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What to delay
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What to reduce quality on
You could say:
"I can do this new task, and it will mean some tradeoffs on A project and B project.
I would love some guidance on where to put my energy."
When I (hey, it's Steve here) led large-scale businesses, the people I promoted were almost always pushing me on alternatives.
Lean into saying NO.
Just do it with the right frame.
For the action takers:
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Post this sentence somewhere that is visible and works for you: "Saying NO means saying YES to something else". This also helps in achieving your Big Goals).
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Practice your delivery: Don't expect saying no to be easy. Use a partner, a mirror, or your phone to get better at it. Concepts and frameworks are good. Execution is where it counts.
Bonus tip: Write down the most common responses or questions you will get - and get ready for those as well.
You won't regret it.
And if you still struggle with saying no? Send us your biggest challenge and we'll reply with extra advice to every single message we get.
Thanks for reading!
Speak soon,
Lynne and Steve
TLDR
- Saying no doesn't have to be a career nail in the coffin. Get your tactics right.
- To do it well, focus on (1) Intent, (2) Your Boss' Perspective, and (3) Alternatives
- You'll only get good at it if you practice. So practice!
PS
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