‘Just Say No,’ and Other Ludicrous Stuff You Can’t Do At Work
I recently read a blog about ways to bring balance and reduce stress at work. The author suggested we must learn to say ‘No.’
In what world? Not at work — my experience has been that ‘No’ is not a viable option I can or should take.
As a leader in many organizations, saying ‘No’ is not in my best interest. My people need my time. I have to fulfill my objectives. Not responding to higher-ups expeditiously is impossible. Policy often requires that I act in a documented way that contradicts my preference.
So, should you run yourself ragged to get it all done? Sacrifice your ethics to implement certain decisions.
Well, no. There are more realistic ways of getting more done:
I want to be available to my people.
- Say, “Yes!” Set aside ‘open hours’ once weekly for your people to drop in and cover any topic. Instead of 1-hour meetings, push them to schedule 25-minute appointments with agendas. Encourage your people to get help from each other before coming to you. Begin by asking, “What have you tried already? Who have you reached out to for help? What else will you try?”
I want to fulfill my objectives.
- Say, “Help!” Schedule a meeting with those that can help you get it done faster. Reach out and ask for advice from colleagues in other departments or external experts. Consult with LinkedIn contacts for fresh ideas. Ask for feedback from your team on how to do something better or differently, Delegate vital tasks for your team and celebrate together when OKRs are accomplished.
I must respond to higher-ups quickly.
- Say, “Yes, and…” When you receive a request from higher-ups, the best thing to do is to be open-minded. Ask questions to get a better understanding of the task required. Ask, “What’s the priority?” Make sure you understand what matters most and why it needs a quick response. If not urgent, negotiate for a delivery turnaround time that works with everything else you have going on. Schedule weekly check-ins with your leaders so they are in tune with the progress (make them 15-or 25-minute huddles).
The policy requires that I act in a particular way.
- Say, “Can we redefine?” Sometimes when a policy seems unfair or biased, see if it must be enforced in its current form. Could you bring a new perspective? Document any changes or exceptions made to the procedure — make it official. If you’ve spent hours trying to find a solution and nothing seems to work, bite the bullet — do it. Then, continue striving to get to the level of power in the organization or form a coalition to make the changes you wish to see.
In the end, when you are stuck in a no-win situation at work, remember that ‘No’ is not always the best answer. There are other ways to get it done to make your team and colleagues happy and feel fulfilled. Good luck!
© 2023 K. Joseph. All rights reserved
🙏🏾 Thanks for reading.