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Learn How To Say NO - And Stay Liked!

Page Summary

Here's are seven useful strategies on for yourself and your life coaching clients on how to say NO elegantly to requests without causing offence or burning bridges in the relationship.

Quick Links

1. Why say NO and not yes?

2. Seven elegant ways to say NO.

3. A helpful time management tool

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Why Saying NO Can Make Your Life More Productive

Do you know how to refuse a request? Of course you do. NO is a simple word. But do you have trouble saying NO to the numerous requests that come your way and take your time?

Learning how to say no can mean saying 'maybe' more often.

Then at the end of a well-planned week you find you have said YES so often to the needs of others and have done very little of what you really wanted to get done for yourself.

In all types of life coaching situations being able to say NO yourself and educate clients on the importance of being able to say NO nicely is vital. And it can also help you as the coach stick to your own boundaries when a client becomes over demanding.

So lets' discuss some ways of how to say NO to yourself (yes yourself) and others, avoid overwhelm and ramp up your refusal skills.

Seven Ways To Say No Elegantly And Productively

There are ways of saying NO that can put the requester offside. And there are ways of saying NO so elegantly, that the person does not feel put out that they have been refused.

1. Take your time before answering a request 'Yes' or 'No':

If the response “YES” to a request is automatic for you, practice stalling for time by substituting it with something like “I’m not sure if that will work, can I get back to you in a couple of hours/days?”

2. Avoid a YES being assumed:
Be careful not to give the impression that your answer will be most likely be yes so, even if you have asked for time, the person asking goes away feeling it is already a done deal and will then feel more let down and maybe annoyed if it turns out to be NO.

Keep your tone neutral and non-committal, or even veer on the side of a refusal. This 'I'll get back to you' time will allow you to ponder on the following questions and make a wise decision:

What is the real benefit I will get personally/professionally if I agree to do this (especially if it is a voluntary project)? How important is it to me?

How will doing this extra task affect my focus on doing the really important things I need to do to achieve my own important tasks, goals and outcomes?

If I agree to this, will I be giving up precious time that could be spent on my goals, with my family or on leisure activities and renewing my energy?

These questions are about making it OK to have your needs and what you want to do, at least as important as the needs and requests of others.

3. Here are two ways of saying No elegantly:

' I'd love to help but it just doesn’t work for me to do that now, but can I suggest…’
(and come up with someone else who may be able to help).
If asked why it doesn’t work, avoid getting drawn into a long explanation which could lead to counter arguments and you giving in and saying YES.
Keep repeating 'It really just doesn’t work for me right now'.
’Id love to help but I have a lot on at the moment and really couldn't do justice to what you need'
Then firmly explain why you really couldn’t do justice to what is needed and if they persist go back to 'it really doesn't work for me'.

4. Overloaded at work?
It can seem almost impossible to know how to Say NO in a work situation, especially if you are really good at juggling multiple tasks.

These strategies may help you say NO and avoid overwhelm and burnout.

Learn how to say no diplomatically to avoid overwhelm at work.

Say something like, 'I can’t see how I can fit this in for when you want it in addition to what you have already requested. Where would you prefer I direct my attention?'

5. Delegate responsibility:
If you are working for more than one person, and they all want to be your priority, throw the decision of what is the most important back to them too sort out the priorities and if necessary deletate to someone else.

I once worked in a PR company as a secretary to two of the busiest consultants who always wanted everything first and in a hurry.

There were other consultants not nearly as busy and their secretaries would often sit reading and knitting whilst I was in overwhelm often working through my lunch hour.

Yes, the other secretaries could have offered to help, but they didn't, and in those days, I didn't have the skills or the confidence to stand up for myself and say NO elegantly or insist I got some help.

If your client finds the idea of saying NO to someone in a particular work or relationship situation sends them into a tizz and makes them anxious, then it could be time to assess whether this is an environment or relationship that really works for them.

6. When You Really Want to Say Yes - But Not Over-commit:
Sometimes you are asked to do something you would really like to get involved with but don’t have the time. When this happens, suggest or ask how you can contribute in a way that works for you in the time you want to commit. This will keep you involved but on your terms.

7. Be sympathetic but firm:
In all your newly acquired ways of how to say NO, be sympathetic but firm. Don’t over apologise for your NO. Show empathy for their situation but in a way that lets them know your mind will not be changed.

I hope you have found these suggestions for saying NO helpful. This is just one of the personal success strategies in my book Mastering the Art of Goals Coaching to help you help your coaching clients achieve their goals faster and with less stress.

Help To Say No With This Time Management Tool

Coaching Tools Company Activity Tracker package for managing time.

9 Brandable products to take charge of time

If saying NO and lack of time has been a problem for your client, then they you will find The Coaching Tools Company Time Management and Productivity Kit which includes an Activity Tracker. All can be branded to your coaching business.

As well as finding the Activity Tracker really useful for myself, my clients loved it. Rather rather than just answering random questions about where their time was going, the templates in the kit really gives a reality on what takes up time and how to make positive changes.

I hope you've come to the conclusion that saying yes to every request is NOT the way to go.The bottom line is that learning to say NO confidently can move you forward towards having work life balance and achieving your goals faster than saying YES to everything.

Extra help to grow your coaching skills and promoting yourself

I have written a wide range of informative books (all from my own 25+ years experience) that will help you to authentically attract new quality clients, increase your coaching skills and promote your coaching services.