Saying No Nicely - An Acquired Skill!

The idea might sound strange but being able to say ‘no’ is fundamental to any scheme of Time Management.

Yes you have the master plan for time management, you have everything worked out, you have a time table which you stick to religiously, and you have a ‘to do’ list as well.

But just when things are beginning to work out fine, a colleague or friend comes your way and asks you to help them out by doing certain jobs which are really their jobs.

The person smiles very sweetly at you and showers sugar coated words on you, and before you even know what hit you, you have said yes and agreed to do the work for the person.

Now what is the relevance of your well thought out timetable? Where is your scheme for time management? Your work is waiting in the pantry while you are sweating over somebody else’s work.

And it’s because of the simple reason that you could not say no to the person. How many times have you had a similar experience?

I’m not saying that you should not be civil. If you find a colleague in distress and have the time to to help, by all means go ahead.

But that does not mean that you should let yourself be taken for a ride. If you are going to help a person do things they really should be doing themselves at the expense of your work and schedule, then you are going to end up in hot water.

Unless you want to take up from where Mother Theresa left off, you had better put your foot down and say “sorry boss, but I just don’t have the time.” Behave like a diplomat.

Learn to discern between the difference between doing work that is someone else's responsibility and the genuine case of need.

If it is the former, say "No!" - in the nicest possible way, of course.