When it is time to say No

The economic recession has caused workers to not decline any request from their bosses, even if they are overloaded with work.  In order to avoid getting fired many agree to an increased workload preventing them from accomplishing their tasks efficiently and effectively.   However, saying `no` can make a more effective employee.  

Common belief pushes us to believe that saying `no` to superiors may hinder our careers but it actually makes employees more effective and helps put us on a successful career path.

The key to saying `no` is to do it  in a smart and tactful way.

"In order to get where you want to go in your career, you have to decide when to say no. If you only say yes, you're just adding more to the plate, and, when that's close to capacity, you can't do great work," says Michael Bungay Stanier, senior partner of organizational consultancy Box of Crayons in Toronto.

Right now is a great time to assess your attitude toward saying yes and no.

Here are some tips for saying `no` and dealing with the word `no`:

Push back diplomatically

For employees who say `yes` almost like it’s an instinct will find it difficult to say `no` suddenly.  

Bungay Stanier suggests thinking of saying `yes` more slowly.     

Ask questions to make sure there are no alternatives to for you bearing an increased workload and that it meets your needs.  

"Your first question should be 'Why me?' " Stanier recommends. Then follow up with questions like: 'Who else have you asked; is this something that only I can do; and, when you say this is urgent, what does that actually mean?' " he adds.

Such questions shift the balance, Mr. Bungay Stanier says. "The effect is that it is harder work for managers to get you to say yes and, in many cases, they'll look for a softer target who will say yes to the assignment you're dreading."

Set priorities

A big stressor for most people is the feeling you have when you have never really finished any one task.  Over time things get placed on the back burner.

Do a weekly review of all the tasks at hand and asses how they fit your goals.    

Once you've set the priorities clear in your mind, you still have to get your boss onside. "Talk about what you see as the gap between what you are doing and what you can do best and will have the highest payback," Stanier says.

"People don't often have these conversations with their boss. But once you start having these discussions, it will come easier."

Rethink priorities

Communicate to your boss that if you take on a new assignment what you were working will have to wait.  As a result, you will have more time to complete the task.  

Make no a career booster

Saying `no` may get you recognition as a strategic thinker, Stanier comments.  You get identified as being able to negotiate.  

What's in it for managers?

Managers should use and encourage feedback from employees.  This is a great indicator of the workplace environment and culture.  

When employees express fatigue this should indicate that the quality of work is suffering.  This should be an indicator as well for how work should be delegated to employees. 

Posted by: suhujitha on 2010-04-13 15:11:52

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