Instead of Saying No, Try Saying “Yes If”

The Power of Embracing ‘Yes If’ in Your Life.

Say hello to Lily.

Lily works for a prestigious marketing firm, where her days are filled with tight deadlines, demanding clients, and a never-ending to-do list. Lily is known for her efficiency, but she often finds herself buried under the weight of tasks that seem impossible to accomplish.

One day, as Lily was sipping her coffee in the break room, her colleague Jake approached her with a request.

“Hey, Lily, I know you’re swamped with work, but do you think you could help me with this client presentation? It’s due tomorrow, and I’m struggling to get it done.”

Her immediate inclination was to say yes, but she’s trying to fight her people pleasing tendencies. “No is a sentence” she remembers reading online. Remembering that she’s already overwhelmed with responsibilities, she plucks up the courage to say no.

But just before she opens her mouth, she remembers another piece of advice…

The power of saying “yes if”.

She decided to give it a try.

“Jake,” Lily began, “I’d love to help you, but I’m buried under my own projects. If you could help me with a few key items I have on my ToDo list, I might be able to offer some guidance on how you can streamline the process. How does that sound?”

To Lily’s surprise, Jake’s face lit up. He eagerly agreed to help and Lily found herself offering insights and ideas that not only helped Jake but also added value to the overall presentation. The next day, as the client meeting unfolded, the presentation received praise.

Word of Lily’s collaborative approach spread throughout the office, and soon enough, others started approaching her with requests. Instead of turning them away, Lily continued to apply the “yes if” strategy, finding ways to contribute to others work, but also to receive help for her own.

She was able to help others without compromising her own priorities.

The Impact

As weeks passed, Lily noticed a significant shift in her work environment.

The culture became more collaborative, and her colleagues began to view her as a valuable resource rather than someone to avoid when overloaded.

Lily’s willingness to say “yes if” not only strengthened her relationships within the office but also opened doors to unexpected opportunities.

One day, the CEO of the company, impressed by Lily’s collaborative spirit, approached her with a unique proposition. “Lily,” he said, “we’ve been considering a cross-departmental initiative, and we believe your skills in collaboration would be instrumental in its success. Are you interested in taking the lead?”

Lily, who had initially started saying “yes if” as a way to manage her workload, now found herself presented with a chance to lead a company-wide project. Embracing the opportunity, she accepted the challenge, and the initiative turned out to be a massive success, elevating both her career and the company’s reputation.

“If someone offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes — then learn how to do it later” — Richard Branson

By utilising “yes if”, Lily was able to not only help others, but also get help with her own projects.

Lessons

Lily’s story is fictitious, but the lessons presented here are very real for many people I see and work with every single day.

In my own life, both in business and personal, I’ve found there’s immense power in saying “yes if”.

It’s the perfect balance between Yes and No.

It’s saying to others “I want to help you, but my effort doesn’t come for free”.

When my daughter asks if she can have a play date with her friend, I respond “yes, if you tidy your room”.

When one of my colleagues asks if I can provide some more clarity on a project requirements, I respond “yes, if you write up the questions you’d like answering”.

When my boss asks if I can take on an initiative to develop a technical strategy to see us through the next 5 years, I respond, “yes, if you get me some commercial figures on expected growth”.

Saying “yes if” transforms challenges into opportunities.

By leveraging your willingness to help others within the constraints of your own workload, you can not only become a valuable team player but also open doors to unforeseen advancements in your career.

Next time you feel urged to say Yes, or inclined to say No, do neither.

Think of something you want in return, say “Yes if”, and turn the ask around to get something you want too.

It might change your life.