Is it ever OK to say no to your boss or colleagues? Most of us find it hard to do so, but if you want to avoid burnout, sometimes you need to say no to an extra assignment or to a colleague’s request for help. Consultant Fotini Iconomopoulos has some tips.
Consider the consequences
Before you accept more work, think about what might happen if you were to say no to it instead, Iconomopoulos advises. Will accepting extra work make you rush to complete your current tasks? Could that lead to careless or inaccurate work? If so, a tactful “no” — discussed with your manager — could be the correct choice.
Deal with guilt
“Remember: you have a reason for saying no,” Iconomopoulos told CBC News. “You wouldn’t hold it against someone else if roles were reversed, so keep that in the back of your mind. If you burn yourself out, you won’t be able to serve anyone very well.”
Suggest an alternative
Start by being polite, Iconomopoulos advises. You can say something like “Thanks for thinking of me” or “I’m flattered that you think I’m the right person for the job”. Then, if you think a colleague might want to have the assignment, you could tell your supervisor that this other person “would probably love that opportunity”.
Don’t lie
Iconomopoulos says lying is not worth the risk. If you are found out (and you probably will be), it makes you seem untrustworthy. It’s better to be unspecific than to invent a complicated excuse — just say you can’t stay late at work, for example, and leave it at that.
Turn a problem into a solution
Your boss may well be able to help you deal with the situation. Give her a few reasons why you are unable to accept the extra work and ask for suggestions. She may be able to give you tips that will make you more efficient, or find a way of redistributing some of your tasks among your co-workers.
Try humour
Iconomopoulos says that a lighter approach may defuse a difficult situation. For example, if you can’t work late because you have to go to your child’s birthday party, you could say, “My spouse will divorce me if I miss one more family event!” But don’t try this if you know your boss doesn’t have a good sense of humour — or if she takes everything you say literally!