Many women have trouble saying no. According to one psychologist, women often play to get along, while and men play to win. As a business owner or service professional, you sometimes need to give up the notion of “being popular,” especially when you might agree to things that can hurt your business in the long run.
Whether you need to disappoint an employee who’s asking for a raise or turn down that client who’s asking you to turn your schedule upside down to accommodate a special request, learning how to say no with conviction and tact is a skill that every woman in business needs to learn.
If you always say yes, you’ll find yourself resentful and perhaps overly-committed. Think about those times you were aiming to please and ended up doing something that you knew deep down wasn’t right for yourself or your business. Here’s a 3-step process for moving from being a people pleaser to an in-charge professional.
- Commit to learning to say no. See below for some tips!
- Practice, practice, and practice some more. Roleplay with friends and trusted colleagues.
- Don’t second-guess yourself. The more you “get your no on” the easier it will become. Plus, you’ll have time and energy to say “HELL YEAH!” to the right things that come along in the future.
Here are some respectful ways to set boundaries.
