Deep Dive Series: The Power of No by Identifying What You Are Willing to Do
By Tana M. Mann Easton, Lead Efficiency Engineer
If someone makes a request that you would like to support but you can’t accommodate in the way requested, then letting people know what you are willing to do instead is a supportive way to say no.
For example, let’s say your now-able-to-drive teen asks you to drive them somewhere. You don’t have the time/energy/desire to do so, so you let them know when the car is available for them to take and where to find the keys.
Similarly, imagine you’re an expert in your professional field and you receive a request from someone to “pick your brain” over coffee. You receive so many of these requests that you’ve put together a document of frequently asked questions. You let the requester know that you’re not able to get together, but you forward your FAQ document and let them know that they may email you back if they have any questions after reading it.
Letting people know what you are willing to do when their initial request is beyond your capacity is a helpful way to navigate a supportive no while respecting everyone’s ability to choose.
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Sincerely Yours,
Focus to Evolve Team