From the course: Personal Effectiveness Tips

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Say no without alienating people

Say no without alienating people

From the course: Personal Effectiveness Tips

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Say no without alienating people

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- Saying no isn't easy. It's so much simpler in the moment to acquiesce. It won't take that long to grab that coffee or read over that pitch. But in the long run, it kills you. It takes you away from your own priorities and sets up expectations among those people that you'll be available at their beck and call. Learning to say no is essential for your sanity and your productivity. But being clear doesn't mean being harsh. There's an art to saying no while still preserving the relationship and here's how to do it. First, give a firm and definite answer. Many people won't take the hint if you soft pedal with phrases like, "I'm not sure I can do that," or "I'm really busy right now." They're just going to come back and hit you with "So how about next week?" Cut them off at the pass by being polite but very clear that the answer is no. It also helps to provide a reason which should be truthful so they have some context. For instance, you can say "I really appreciate "your invitation, I'm…

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