The Importance of No
Want to complete more tasks, be more efficient, and have time to recharge? Then it’s time for you to learn to say NO. When you learn to say no, you free yourself up to better discern when to say YES to opportunities that arise.
The word no is a challenging word to get comfortable with. No is often associated with passing up on an opportunity. No sometimes connotes being difficult to work with or noncollaborative. It’s important to remember, however, that not all opportunities are for you. In the effort to increase your productivity, efficiency, and free-time, you must filter through the opportunities that come your way.
Learn When to Say Yes
I’ve discovered a great litmus test to use when deciding whether or not to pursue an opportunity. I ask myself the following questions to determine when to say yes and when to say no to opportunities.
Is this opportunity in line with my goals?
There will always be new and exciting opportunities in front of you. But you must always ask yourself if the opportunity aligns with your goals. At any given point, you can add more responsibilities to your plate. These opportunities present in many forms. It could be a more challenging project at work, a new job, a promotion, a guest speaker role, an extra class, a part-time gig, etc. However, to help you decide when to say yes and when to say no, it’s important to consider if the opportunity is in line with your goals. If it’s not, you can end up distracting yourself from your true ambitions!
Does this opportunity supplement my current work?
When you’re faced with a new opportunity, it’s important to decide whether the opportunity supplements or distracts from your current work. If you have a new opportunity that enhances the work you’re already doing, that would be when to say yes! For instance, if you have a blog and you’re working to grow your readership, it would likely be prudent to accept a paid (or even unpaid) offer to review a product that aligns with your content. On the other hand, as a blogger, it might be better to say no if you’re asked to write a guest post on a blog site outside of your niche. The time spent on that post could be time spent creating content toward your own goals! Whatever your field of work, remember that some opportunities supplement your current work, while others distract. Choose wisely!
Will this opportunity connect me with people who can help me achieve my goals?
Not all opportunities will directly connect you to the work or impact that you want to achieve. BUT there are many opportunities that can connect you to the right people! So, if an opportunity allows you to connect with industry leaders, investors, or simply people doing what it is you want to do, think of that as when to say YES! Remember, it’s not always what you know, but who you know that sets you up for success.
Is it feasible for me to complete this task to the best of my abilities, given my existing responsibilities?
Sometimes we’ll be presented supplemental opportunities at inopportune times. Maybe there’s a lot going on in your personal life or you are already in the midst of several projects. If you say yes to everything, you’ll end up swamped and unable to complete tasks to the best of your ability. So in the process of deciding when to say yes and when to say no to opportunities, ask yourself, “Is it feasible for me to complete this task to the best of my abilities, given my existing responsibilities?” If the answer to this question is no, it would be wise to politely decline.
Author and psychologist Adam Grant says it best: “Feeling overwhelmed is usually the result of being overcommitted.” He goes on to say, “don’t add a new project until you’ve finished an existing one “
Summary
To recap, the guiding questions to help you know when to say yes or no to an opportunity are:
- Is this opportunity in line with my goals?
- Does this opportunity supplement my current work?
- Will this opportunity connect me with people who can help me achieve my goals?
- Is it feasible for me to complete this task to the best of my abilities, given my existing responsibilities?
If the answer is positive for two or more of the above questions, that’s a great signal to say yes instead of no. However, if the answers to this litmus test questions are negative, that’s a sign that the opportunity you’re presented with will likely be counterproductive to your ongoing work.
What do you think? How do you determine when to say yes or no to an opportunity? Which of the questions that I shared will you adopt? Let me know in the comments below!
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This post is an extension of my previous post – Take Time to Recharge: 3 Strategies to Be More Productive Every Day. Be sure to check it out for more productivity hacks!
Dr. Atasha Jordan is an Ivy League-trained psychiatry resident and businesswoman. Read Dr. Jordan’s inspiring story of discovering her passion and purpose as a mental healthcare provider and advocate. Feel free to send a message to Dr. Jordan here.
