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Advice / Succeeding at Work / Work-Life Balance

Why You're Not Saying No Enough (And How to Fix It)

For just being two measly letters long, "no" seems to be one of the hardest words in the English language for many of us to say.

But it's actually incredibly important for our careers (and our sanity!) that we learn to say it and stand behind it. That's why we've gathered some of the best resources from around the web on how and when to say a resounding "no!"

  • Learn why not saying "no" is holding you back from long-term success. (Fast Company)

  • Saying "no" more can also help improve your creativity. (Medium)

  • Even saying "yes" to seemingly small requests at work can hold you back—so it's important to know how to set the right boundaries. (99U)

  • An easy way to set your personal boundaries? If the answer's not "heck yes," it should probably be "sorry, no.” (15Five)

  • Use this basic script to learn how to say "no" to anything ever. (Alexandra Franzen)

  • And try these responses to stick to your "no" when people push back against you. (MindBodyGreen)

  • Make sure you're using the right words to make your "no" easier to say and more effective. (Buffer)

  • If saying "no" outright is still too hard? Try these beat-around-the-bush tactics. (Time Management Ninja)

  • To make it even easier to turn down some things, create a personal "don't-do" policy. (Positively Positive)

  • If you're already agreed to something that you shouldn't have, know how to back out gracefully. (Lifehacker)

    • Want more? Check out some of our great articles on saying "no!"

    How to Say NoJust Say No: 7 Canned Responses to Use at Work

    Don't want to write a letter of recommendation for someone or join (another) committee? Use one of these cut-and-pasteable scripts next time you need to say no.

    In Defense of Saying NoIn Defense of Saying "No"

    Feeling overworked, overwhelmed, and overcommitted? Maybe it's time to start saying "no" to a few things. Before you start to panic, we'll give you a few reasons why it's totally OK (and a few ways to get started).

    Photo of man working courtesy of Shutterstock.