How to say "No"

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• Do you ever find yourself saying "Yes" to things that you really don't want to do?
• Do you feel that others sometimes take advantage of your goodwill and helpfulness?
• What if you could unlock the secret to protecting your time and energy by simply saying no? 

This week on Leading People it's another One Simple Thing - easy tips and insights that you can implement immediately. 

Today, you'll learn the essential art of saying "No" by prioritizing yourself first. By embracing this transformative mindset, young leaders - and seasoned veterans alike - can revolutionize their approach to managing tasks and relationships.

Discover how to assertively decline requests that don't align with your true priorities. 

In this episode I share practical techniques to frame your responses confidently, preserving relationships while safeguarding your most important commitments. 

Plus, how to say "No" to your boss!  

Tune in to each episode of One Simple Thing to learn how small steps can lead to remarkable transformations. 

Connect with me on LinkedIn and follow this podcast so you're sure to get our next episode, where we'll continue to uncover simple yet powerful methods to enhance your leadership journey.

Curious?

Listen now to learn this important skill. 

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:05

Welcome to Leading People with me, gerry Marais, this week. It's One Simple Thing, where in each episode, I share a quick, actionable tip to help you bring out the best in yourself and others. One Simple Thing is created for young leaders, but hey, us older folks can still learn a thing or two. Ask my dog. He's learned a few new tricks recently. Here's a question for you how often do you say yes to something you really want to say, no to something you really want to say no to? Oh, yes, huh, oh no.

Speaker 1: 0:48

I've worked with countless professionals who struggle with this, whether it's taking on extra work, agreeing to meetings they don't need to be in, or saying yes to social events out of guilt. And here's what I've learned To be able to say no to someone else, you've got to first say yes to yourself. Aha, I knew it. The reason so many people struggle with saying no isn't just about time. It's about not being clear on what's truly important to them. Think about it. If you know your core values, it's easier to protect your time. Your values become your internal compass, not just shifting priorities that someone else can change, not just shifting priorities that someone else can change. So here's one simple thing to try. Before you say yes to a new request, pause and ask yourself does this align with what truly matters to me? If you've already committed to family time, a personal goal or an important project, then that's your priority and, instead of just saying no, frame it in a way that reflects your values.

Speaker 1: 2:27

Here are some examples of saying no in a confident and assertive way Sorry, that's not going to work for me today. Sorry, I've already committed to something important. Sorry, I can't take this on right now, but I can suggest an alternative. Sorry, I can't take this on right now, but I can suggest an alternative. Now I know what you're thinking you do. What if the request comes from my boss? You can't just flat out say no, right, but you can get clarity. You could say something like I'd be happy to help. However, first, could you let me know which of my current priorities should I deprioritize to make space for this new request? This shifts the conversation, preserves the relationship with your boss and prevents you from automatically taking on extra work that derails what's most important to you. And when you practice this, you'll start feeling more in control of your time, less resentful and more focused on what truly matters to you. I know this works because I've seen my clients literally transform their lives after learning how to elegantly say no.

Speaker 1: 3:58

Oh yes, try it this week. Start saying yes to yourself and notice what happens. And that's another One Simple Thing. Thanks for tuning in. Remember small steps can lead to big changes. Test out this One Simple Thing and notice how it transforms your day. Let me know how you get on. Reach out on LinkedIn and connect with me. Mention the podcast and if you'd like to learn more one simple things, then subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast channel and follow our LinkedIn Leading People page. In our next episode of One Simple Thing, we'll explore another easy way to be a great leader by bringing out the best in yourself and those around you and in between. You can check out one of my longer conversations with leading people about yes, you've guessed it leading people. So until then, keep exploring and stay curious.