How to Say No Without a Speech
Hello, you.
The hard asks aren't the outrageous ones. They're the reasonable ones, and there are seventeen of them this week.
SENTENCES THAT WORK
- "I can't take that on this month."
- "I've got something on then." (You do. It's an hour for yourself.)
- "Not this time, but thanks for thinking of me."
- "Let me check and get back to you." Then actually decide, later.
THE RULES
- Keep it short. The longer the reason, the more there is to argue with.
- Skip the apology sandwich. One "sorry" is plenty. None is fine too.
- Don't invent a better excuse. "I can't" is the reason.
- Protect one hour a week in the diary, in the same ink you'd use for the dentist.
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