This topic is a fun one because when people first hear it or read it…they think, must be nice to think about this, but in reality you can’t say no very often. There is some truth to that, but I think people take the word or action of No to the extreme. In business scenarios, no isn’t a discussion stopper, it’s a discussion starter…so if you just say no and don’t say anything else, you aren’t doing your job as a leader.
As a leader, you understand that there is almost always a business reason behind an ask…so just saying no, now puts someone on the defensive to get something done for their leader, team, etc. Instead of saying no and ending the conversation, say, no, but…and let people know that you are open to helping, but the no was specifically for the suggestion or request. Then start discussing other options. If you don’t have any ideas, ask for more context on where the ask is coming from. Saying no is an art and the leaders that can do it best, can create the most change and success in a company.
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