A Better Way to Say No at Work
Declining a request without declining a colleague: four sentences worth memorising.
Saying no at work is a skill that almost nobody teaches and almost everybody needs. The usual advice is to be clear, which is correct and slightly unhelpful. What most of us need is language.
These four sentences have saved us a great deal of time:
- “I can’t do that this week, but I can do it on Thursday.” A no with an alternative is a yes in disguise.
- “I’d like to help. Which of these should I put down?” It hands the prioritising back to the person asking.
- “That’s outside what I can do well right now.” Honest, short and difficult to argue with.
- “Thank you for thinking of me. I’m going to pass.” No explanation required.
The key is to say it early, say it kindly and say it once. A clear no is a courtesy; a vague yes that turns into a missed deadline is not.
Written by
Odette Marsh
Contributing writer on work, money and relationships. Formerly a financial journalist; now mostly interested in the conversations people avoid.