The Importance of Saying No
This very effective productivity tip sounds relatively simple to implement, however, is often the most challenging for many – knowing how to say no.
Most of us are wired to be empathetic and caring towards others, so the idea of disappointing someone can be upsetting or guilt-inducing. Of course, there's also a fear of confrontation, especially in the work environment. While saying yes can feel like you're in control of your life and what you have on your plate, it can easily create a situation where you're no longer in control and under pressure.
Unfortunately with every yes, you're deprioritising your own needs and focusing on low-impact tasks instead. If you do that for long enough while still trying to achieve your own goals and priorities, you can easily find yourself burnt-out.
Learning to say 'no' can be a real game-changer for your productivity.
It's often an automatic response to say 'sure, no problem' when someone asks for your help. What a lot of us need to do is learn to reprogram ourselves to take a beat and consider what saying 'yes' actually means. Do you have to miss out on family time? Are you completing work that you're not paid for and isn't part of your job description? Will it impact any of your desired outcomes? This is why it's so important to be clear on what your personal and professional boundaries are so that when you're asked for something, you know clearly where it will sit on your priority list. While prioritising your own needs over others might sound selfish, it reflects positively on your self-care and the importance of modelling this behaviour to those around you.
If saying no in person is a challenge, a reliable workaround is to craft a more cordial response via email. If you need some help creating this "no" message, try using an app like text expander app. It can come in handy during such situations and increase your productivity levels in other areas. With an app like that, you create a range of 'snippets' that are connected to a text shortcut, and every time you type that trigger word on your computer, the snippet automatically appears.
Here are some examples:
Trigger word - nopebooked > I'd be happy to help with this, but I'm completely booked up until X day. I could look into making some time for you on Y day if it's still helpful, but if you need help right away, I will check with person A/resource B.
Trigger word - nopebandwidth > That's a great idea, but I'm worried it will stretch my time too thinly. I'm keen to stay focused on X and Y projects at the moment.
Trigger word - nomeeting > Thanks for the invite, but I won't be able to join you—I need to use that time to focus on my current priorities. Let me know if anything comes out of the meeting that I could help contribute towards it.
Lastly, when saying no, try to be gracious and polite but don't feel like you need to give a reason, apologise or lie. Start today by saying no to everything, unless there's a compelling reason to say yes. And when it feels challenging and unpleasant, remind yourself that saying 'no' does get more comfortable with practice and repetition, plus your productivity will thank you for it.