Cheryl Richardson explores why saying no can be difficult for many people in her book The Art of Saying No. She explains that we often have trouble saying no due to not wanting to feel guilty for letting others down, disappoint them, or damage relationships. Additionally, we may lack the language to turn people down politely or fear conflict. However, Richardson notes it is important to say no when needed in order to prioritize our own needs and avoid overcommitting. She provides strategies for saying no respectfully such as buying time to think, assessing how much you really want to do something, and being honest yet considerate in delivery.
13. The Art of Saying No
Buy Some Time
Sometimes saying yes slips out because we don t know what
Sometimes saying yes slips out because we don’t know what
else to say when the other person is expecting an answer. A
real lifesaver is to put off your answer and give yourself some
time to think about it. Say something like, I’ll need to check
with someone before I commit or need to get back to you or
even Let me sleep on it.This is helpful because it lets the
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other person know upfront that you may not be able to
commit so its easier for you to back out of it if it comes down
to that.
to that
15. The Art of Saying No
Tell the Truth Directly
Sometimes we find it hard to tell the truth because we lack
Sometimes we find it hard to tell the truth because we lack
the words to say it gracefully. The best way to do this is to
be honest with how you feel without over explaining
yourself. The longer you take to explain, the more openings
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you give yourself to change your mind. The point is to be
considerate with your choice of words while still sending a
clear message that you need to say no. Say something like, I
feel bad about letting you down but I need to instead
of leaving yourself open by saying, I don t think I can do it,
of leaving yourself open by saying, I don’t think I can do it,
but if something changes I’ll let you know.
16. The Art of Saying No
Cheryl Richardson explains that …if you:re going to
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disappoint people the right way, the idea is to tell the truth
with respect and care, not manage their emotions. Don’t
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measure your success by the response you receive.
Measure it by how you feel once your anxiety disappears.
17. The Art of Saying No
Thank you,
Thank you,
amirsaiftaz@gmail.com
www.amirsaiftaz.blogspot.com