Learning How To Say No Is An Invaluable Skill

Like most people, I'm constantly bombarded with requests from other people in both my personal and professional lives. I'm asked to meet friends for coffee, attend a conference, conduct an interview, answer questions for someone — the list goes on and on.

I used to say yes to everything because I didn't want to miss out on making a new connection. But over time, I felt myself becoming exhausted and depleted. I could never meet my own goals because I was spending all of my time helping other people. So I started saying no. It was difficult at first, but I learned that in order to see my own professional and personal success, I had to invest time in myself. When you say no, you're really saying yes to something you want to do. Something for yourself that gives you purpose and meaning.

As we become more connected with new technology, we'll be even more inundated with requests. Learning how to say no is one of the most valuable things we can learn. You don't need to be rude, but you also need to stand up for yourself. Here are three tips for saying no:

Set boundaries

Think of the most important things that you want to protect. Be selfish. If you really want to write a book or start a new business, decide from the beginning that you'll say no to anything that gets in the way of those goals. With pre-determined boundaries, you don't have to think about every offer but can quickly say yes or no.

Be firm

Don't say maybe if you really want to say no. Be firm in your response and don't leave the door open for the possibility that you might change your mind.

Don't offer an explanation

Don't feel like you have to give an excuse or explain yourself. Offering an explanation leaves the door open to saying yes in the future. If you feel you have to add something after saying no, give an alternative like introducing the person to someone else who could help.

Learning how to say no is an invaluable skill for both your career and personal life. With practice, you can start saying no and start saying yes to yourself.