Deep Dive Series: The Power of No Through Visualizing Alternatives
By Tana M. Mann Easton, Lead Efficiency Engineer
For most of us, it’s easier to say no to personal time requests than professional time requests. However, if you constantly say no to personal priorities in favor of professional, then at some point your life will probably feel really out of balance. If your personal life feels like it’s in trouble because you can’t say no to professional requests, then perhaps some visualization could help.
For example, keep a picture of your kids on your work desk. If you’ve promised them that you’re going to be at their upcoming school concert and a coworker asks you to join a meeting at that same time, try some visualization before making your decision. Pick up that picture of your children and tell them that you won’t be able to come to their concert because you have another work meeting. If you can’t stand even imagining their disappointed faces, then perhaps you need to try to reschedule or skip that work meeting this time.
Let’s say your significant other says they never see you and they feel like you’re growing apart and you schedule a long-awaited date night. Your boss invites you to happy hour during the same time as your date night. Before responding, pick up your phone and look at a picture of your significant other. Tell them that you have to cancel your date night because your boss wants to get together. Imagine how they’re going to react. Which decision do you think you should really make?
We all seem to be pretty good at visualizing the ramifications of a no given at work, but most of us completely discount the ramifications of a no given at home. Some visualization of giving a no to the people we are closest to makes the stakes more real and can help us to navigate the path we want to take more fully and honestly.
If you or your team would like to sign up for our 2 hour Balance and Productivity training to instantly double your meaningful output and find the feeling of lasting flow and optimized work life balance, please click here and say hello!
Sincerely Yours,
Focus to Evolve Team