Saying No in the Workplace – When, Why and How to Do It

Here’s the thing.

For the most part, saying yes demonstrates positivity and a willingness to engage but there are some occasions when it’s fine to say no.

If it conflicts with your values and beliefs

No task should force you to compromise your values and beliefs. Remember, if someone doesn’t respect your values, they don’t respect you.

If you’re not right for a role or responsibility

While our careers grow by challenging ourselves, there are some roles that are just too unsuitable. If it feels logistically or technically impossible for your skillset, there’s nothing wrong with turning it down.

If the task or the company might suffer

We all want to perform every task to the best of our ability. So if you feel a task will suffer as a result of your hectic schedule, saying ‘no’ can demonstrate good time management skills.

Saying no may sound easy but in practice, it’s a lot harder. Here are a few tips to bear in mind.

Be polite

Though you’re saying no, it’s important to thank them for offering you the opportunity.

Be diplomatic

Calmly state your reasons for saying no or ask which other tasks you can put to one side to make way for this one. 

Offer an alternative

Simply saying no without offering a solution is unprofessional. So always be prepared to present an alternative option.

Research from the University of California suggests that struggling to say no can make us more prone to burnout, stress and even depression.

And finding a few choice moments to practice rejection demonstrates restraint, independent thinking and can paint you as a more rounded employee.

So while we’re told that saying yes will accelerate our careers, actually, the opposite may be true.

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