Thanks for your interest in saying NO!

Step 1: Consider Your OPTIONS

We have been taught that it is rude to say NO, that it is impolite. Remember that every time you say YES to someone or something, you are in fact saying NO to something or someone else because you have a finite amount of time and energy. So, before you say YES, spend some time thinking about who/what you will have to say NO to, and when you think about saying NO, realize who will get a better YES!

Step 2: Delay your RESPONSE

Because many of us are optimists, our initial response to being asked to help out is to generate the 5 or 10 good reasons why we should agree to help. The truth is, though, that the next day we can think of 20 reasons it might not have been a good idea. That is a sign that we should make it our habit to give ourselves time to think about it BEFORE we commit.

Step 3: Have your SCRIPT

The best thing you can do is have a few responses ready to go so it is easier for you to say NO when you need to! Here are a few that have worked for others:

1. Thank you for asking me to help with this. It is an honor to be asked even if I won't be able to say yes at this time.
2. If you can ask again at a later time (next week/month/year/life) I might be able to say yes.
3. I need to check with my supervisor/coworkers and see where this fits in with the other projects we are currently working on.
4. Remember the other project I'm working on for you? Do you want me to set that aside for now and concentrate on this or should I wait and finish that first?
5. Oh, you need to know right now whether I can do it? Then the answers needs to be no. If you could give me a day or so to look at everything, I might be able to reprioritize some things.
6. No, Thanks!
7. This is such a great opportunity. I wish I could take that on, but there really isn't any room on my plate right now.
8. I need a few days to look over my schedule and make sure I can give you the careful attention it deserves.
9. No, I wouldn't be able to take that on right now, but thanks for asking!

If those aren't enough, I also found some websites that have more ways to say no:

iVillage.com

iVillage.com.uk

OnlineOrganizing.com