GET RESULTS
When “no” is a
positive answer
Feeling overworked, undervalued
and stressed out? If your schedule is
overflowing, yet more work is pouring
in, it could be time to say “no” before
you are completely swamped. ANDY HOLLIS
looks at how turning people down may
be better than letting stress build up
Being helpful, often beyond the call of duty, is part
and parcel of working as a PA. But if the burden of your
workload is becoming bigger than you can shoulder, then
it’s time to stand up for yourself – for everyone’s sake.
Being a ‘yes’ man or woman can be as degrading as
the phrase suggests, especially if it is because you feel too
guilty or too afraid to say no.
Why it’s important to say no
Saying yes to every request for your services may seem
like the right thing to do, especially if you are new to a job.
Pleasing everyone will make you appear approachable
and hard working, but will lead to ever more demands
being placed on you. Unless you learn to recognise when
you have enough on your plate and then to say no, your
spirit will be crushed by the mountain of work piling up. So before you slide too far down the slippery slope, it’s
People may start taking advantage of your good time to pick yourself up, be assertive and learn to say no. “
It is important
to learn to say no
nature and there will become a point where you start not You will feel better for it, gain respect from your col-
being able to cope. You will start working later, skipping leagues and the office will run much more smoothly.
in the right way,
lunch breaks and your stress levels will rise. You are on using the right tone
the downward spiral to becoming ill. As you stretch When to say no
of voice, to get
yourself further and become even more overwhelmed, When your organisational skills are being pushed, or you
better results. It
your performance will slump as you become less effi- find your to-do list so daunting you don’t know where to
cient. Your colleagues will begin to lose respect for you start, then it is high time to be more assertive. And remem-
lets everyone know
as you flap and dither not knowing what to do first. ber, it’s not just for your sake. If you find yourself doing where they stand
things that clearly are not in your job description, such as
”
buying presents for the boss’s partner, and you’re not
10 WAYS TO SAY NO DELICATELY happy to do them start to put your foot down.
1 I am in the middle of several projects
How to say no
2 I am not comfortable with that The habit of saying yes may be hard to kick, especially if
3 I am not taking on any new responsibilities
you fear it may lead to confrontation. Clinical hyp-
notherapist, and author of The Stress Less Mind, Georgia
4 I am not the most qualified person for the job
Foster has some advice for those with this people-pleas-
5 Not right now, but I can do it later
ing personality. She said: “It is important to learn to say
6 I don’t have any more room in my calendar no in the right way, using the right tone of voice, to get
7 I hate to split my attention between so many projects
better results. It lets everyone know where they stand.
Instead of saying yes, take a deep breath and think about
8 I have another commitment
the structure of what you are going to say, take time to
9 I know you will do a wonderful job yourself
prepare yourself. This will help you gain respect as peo-
10 I would rather decline than do a mediocre job ple will see you are more assertive. It will get your voice
heard and boost your self-esteem.”
E
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