Asking for what you want at work is a crucial skill for career growth. But it’s just as important to express what you don’t want. While “no” is a loaded word, it protects your time, energy, focus, and productivity.
Saying ‘no’: How to use the Hourglass method
At the top of the hourglass, begin by noting the flash response you initially had to the request: Yes or no?
- Next, pause to examine three things: Your motives, your history, and your future
- The last step before responding is to consider the future: Project whether your yes or no benefits or harms you or your team days from now, weeks from now or even longer
in my opinion
It’s your opinion. Don’t overuse the phrase “in my opinion” unless you’re countering your opinion with others’ thoughts.
Example phrases to help you say no
May I take a day to get back to you?”
- When interpersonal contact is broken, the intellect engages, better quipping you to make rational decisions.
- “It’s not good for me now, but let’s look ahead in our calendars.”
- Be careful not to use a delay to avoid a necessary no.
exact same
If something is the same as something else, there’s no degree of difference between them
absolutely essential
One dictionary definition of essential is “absolutely necessary,” which makes absolutely essential mean “absolutely, absolutely necessary.”
- Clearly the “absolutely” modifier isn’t essential at all.
- Avoid them both – unless it’s a casual conversation and you’re using it to emphasize the necessity of something.
feel badly
Adding the “ly” to “bad” makes it sound better
- The only time you should say you feel badly is if you aren’t good at touching something
- Don’t say “I feel badly” if you don’t feel badly
-wise
Adding the suffix “-wise” to words can make them sound ridiculous
- You sound worse grammar-wise if you add this unnecessary suffix
- Want to sound smarter? Avoid mixing up these 11 most commonly confused words
- 14 common words and phrases you’ve probably been saying wrong
combine together/join together
These are two two-word phrases that managers see all too often and hate
End result/final outcome
Outcome = the way something turns out; it’s already final without adding the word “meaning”
