The art of saying no

BFTP: The art of saying no

http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2020/11/12/bftp-the-art-of-saying-no.html

“So let’s say you’ve factored in the advisability of saying yes to the new task and you really don’t see how you can accomplish one more thing. Here are some things I try to remember to do when I feel I must say no:

• Start with “Anything is possible.” An automatic rejection of request response quickly earns you the reputation of a reactionary. “He’s never tries anything new!” By starting the conversation with “anything is possible,” the one doing the requesting knows that your eventual decision was not a foregone conclusion. And who knows, the discussion might change your “no” to an enthusiastic “yes.”
• Suggest an alternative. Often the need is legitimate. But the proposed solution is not practical. You can get a reputation as a problem-solver by helping the person in need solve his/her problem even when you can’t support the original solution.
• Ask for a priority judgement. “Sure, I can teach students how to use the new learning management system as a part of my information literacy curriculum. However I only meet with students for six hours and here are the current outcomes. Would you help me determine which ones I need to eliminate in order to accommodate the new lessons?” If doing a new thing results in something else going undone, a full understanding of the trade-off is essential.
• Express regret. I have problems with people who say no with great glee. It’s a cheap form showing power and that power usually tends to be petty. Real power comes from making things happen, not keeping them from happening.”