Here are some tactics to help feel more comfortable and effective at saying no : 1 . Know your priorities . Be clear about your priorities . This helps you decide what to accept or decline , depending on what your goals are . 2 . Be honest and direct . Clearly and politely explain why you cannot take on additional tasks , rather than speaking passively or “ beating around the bush .” People respect and trust honesty and direct communication . 3 . Offer alternatives . Just because we refuse the additional work , it doesn ’ t mean we can ’ t still help in another way ! Suggest an alternative solution or person to reach out to instead . For example , “ I can ’ t take this on , but perhaps Jane can .” 4 . Be firm but polite . Our empathetic nature might make us feel guilty and change our mind – but it ’ s important to stand by your decision to avoid confusion and manage expectations .
Here are some ways you can say no ( rather than just replying “ No ” to your colleague ’ s email !) 1 . The Simple No : Unfortunately , I can ’ t commit to this . 2 . Full Schedule No : My schedule is so full right now . 3 . The Priority No : I ’ m currently focused on X and Y and don ’ t have the bandwidth to take on Z right now . 4 . The Conditional No : I can help you with this if we can extend the deadline for my current project . 5 . The Referral No : I can ’ t assist with this , but you might want to ask John ; he has better experience with this kind of work .
Maintain integrity when you do say no . Are you refusing because you truly do not have the bandwidth , or is it because of dislike for the task ? Try to be genuine when you say no – after all , you might need help from that same person later !
Learning to say no is about setting boundaries to protect your time and maintain high quality work . It can be more difficult for us because of our natural instincts , but we can still do so while maintaining our natural tendencies of compassion and harmony — all without having to take on too much . This way , we can focus on what needs to get done and build a more balanced and fulfilling work life .
Join the Women in the Trailer Industry Committee on Tuesday , Aug . 27th as they host The Women in the Trailer Industry Roundtable & Networking Event at the NATDA Trailer Show ! See page 52 for details .
Even after you say no , it doesn ’ t have to be the end of the conversation . Here are important things to remember : Stay connected . You ’ re still a team – it ’ s okay to care about how your colleague is doing ! After some time , check in on your teammate and ask how his or her project is going . If you now have the bandwidth and want to help , feel free to offer . Encourage open dialogue . It is important to discuss bandwidth with your team — your teammate might be struggling with deadlines and may need additional support .
116 NATDA Magazine www . natda . org