In my last post you learned when to say yes when someone asks you for your time. Just as important is knowing when to say no.
Here are a few ways to tell.
The Project from Hell
We’ve all been on a project from hell. For whatever reason we were roped into something that wasn’t in our skill set, wasn’t providing value, and was no fun whatsoever.
But we’ve also been on projects that were challenging, frustrating, and often taxing, yet we came out on the other side better, wiser, and grateful for the experience.
How do we know whether something will lead us down the wrong path? How do when know when to say no?
The Right Method
One of the biggest things we need to be aware of when deciding whether to accept an offer or not is knowing our focus. For instance, choosing an option just because it’s hard isn’t a great way to decide what’s good and what’s not.
We need to have the right frame of mind to accept or reject an offer. In order to do that, we need to look at three key things to help us best decide which projects to jump on and which to avoid all together.
When to Say No
When you’re not sure if you should decline an offer, use these three questions as a guide:
- Is this Aligned with My Purpose? You are going to be most effective when you are doing things that match who you are and what you’re about. It may be best for everyone to avoid doing things that don’t connect with that. If you’re not sure what that looks like, check out my post on setting purposeful goals.
- Am I Taking this from a Better Candidate? One of the reasons you want to avoid things that you are not suited for is because someone else might be better suited for it. There are times where something is outside of your skill set and will help you grow, but you need to figure out if it’s something that’s better for you to do or something that’s better for someone else, which brings us to motivation.
- What’s My Motivation? Are you doing this because you’re afraid to say no? Are you doing this because you want to look good? Are you doing this because you want all the opportunities? Or are you doing this because you are the best person and you can use this opportunity to help others?
Knowing when to say no is a critical skill for not only maximizing your potential but for maximizing the efforts of others. It’s not always easy to do, but sometimes the most difficult things are the best things.
If you struggle with how to say no to an opportunity, stay tuned! You don’t have to say no. There is a better way. Be sure to check out my upcoming post Why I’m Giving up No to find out how to reject an offer without actually saying no.
