Saying no, with reason
And finding a nice, natural, easy way to do it
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I’m slammed for the next few weeks. So, this newsletter and the next few will be short, sharp tips of ~200 words — readable in a single minute.
As it happens, this week’s tip (and the paragraph above) is apt to my current, jam-packed circumstance.
Overcommitting is a recipe for burnout, and for many, the difficulty is not knowing how to say no comfortably so we end up saying yes, instead. It can feel awkward to decline an opportunity or obligation, especially in the moment and with someone with whom you’re not 100% at ease.
But some natural-sounding-yet-pre-prepared phrasing can go a long way to make this easier for you. The key is having a line that feels natural for you to use, even if it’s just to buy time.
I created an infographic on The subtle art of saying no a few weeks ago, but the examples are a little generic to use as-is. What matters is finding a line that suits you, that you’re comfortable with. Something like this works for me: I’m back-to-back this and next week—can we talk about this after that? Brainstorm something else that sounds true to you; a GenAI model (see #15 here) can even help rustle up a few options.
A fully timeboxed calendar isn’t just about being organized and prioritised—it’s your ready-made justification for saying no (or yes) to a new (t)ask.
Marc
Links you may like
7 days of Timeboxing (the free email micro-course)
Timeboxing, the book (US)
Timeboxing, the book (UK)
Timeboxing, el libro (Español)
Connect with me on LinkedIn (I will say yes!)