Even if you pride yourself in being a team player, you may run into a situation where you have to turn an assignment down. Have you ever said, “I don’t have time for this right now,” or “I’m busy right now.” to your boss or colleague? Ever think about how to reframe these responses so you don’t fall out of favor?
Unfortunately, these two direct responses don’t inspire. You can be honest but you also want to foster an environment of collaboration. To build better office relationships, take another approach to saying “no.”
- Never start your reply with no. It is helpful to consider responding to a request with a “Yes, and …” format. Never blatantly reject the idea. Always embrace the request and pivot the request in a direction you like better.
- Offer an alternative If you are in a situation where it is not possible to do the requested task and meet your current deadlines, you could say: “Sure, I can do that — do you want me prioritize it over this other assignment?”
Or maybe you’re willing to perform the task, but another person may have the flexibility to get it done faster. If so, diplomatically make that suggestion.
Instead of rushing to say no, consider offering your assistance in a different way or at a different time. Say instead: I’d be happy to discuss this with you after my morning meetings. May I stop by your office around 2 p.m.?”
The point is to be clear and positive — and to offer a realistic picture of potential alternatives.
- Focus your response on the right points. If you are feeling overworked, don’t focus the conversation on that aspect. Rather focus on how you want to help solve the issue of being overworked. Always make sure you emphasize your willingness and ability to help the department. You might even ask for advice about the best way to handle competing deadlines in the future. Either way, minimize discussion of being overworked to avoid coming across as non-collaborative.
Can you think of other ways to tactfully say no and keep favor at work? Comment below and share your ideas.