As an entrepreneur, making tough decisions, staying true to your values, and having the confidence to say no, can build your reputation and protect you and your team from burnout. Here, I explore the subject of \u2018how to say no\u2019 in further detail. I share my tips on how to avoid being a \u2018yes person\u2019 by embracing the word no. And why I think your new year\u2019s resolution should be to embrace that fact that saying no in business, is a strength.<\/p>\n
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WHEN TO SAY YES OR NO IN BUSINESS<\/strong><\/h3>\nIn business, especially if you are just starting out, it can be easy to get caught up in the \u2018yes\u2019 cycle. You bring in new clients, you want to please them. Any new work is good. It pays the bills, so you say yes to everything. Saying yes is, of course, extremely important. Some entrepreneurs, such as the unstoppable BBC The Apprentice \u2018Queen of Mean\u2019 Linda Plant, live by the rule. In my podcast interview<\/a> with her she said: \u2018say yes until you have to say no.\u2019 Linda puts her incredible business success down to this. It led her to opportunities she could have never dreamed of. However, there are occasions where no can be as powerful as yes in advancing your business.<\/p>\n![\"Why](\"https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/LindaPlant2-768x1024.jpg\")
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It\u2019s also true that saying yes to everything can be a one-way street to burnout. As well as leading you to work on projects that are unfulfilling, uninspiring, and unprofitable. The most important piece of advice I\u2019ve ever seen is to reframe the question of yes or no, to one of \u2018hell yes\u2019 or no. I\u2019m not overly keen on the Americanism, but the sentiment remains the same. Does the project excite and inspire? Is it something you would want to get up in the morning for? Is that client a brilliant fit for you and your business?<\/p>\n
As you\u2019ll know if you\u2019ve read my previous blogs, I believe gut feeling has a big place in business. You can read more on what some thought leaders feel is the difference between how successful entrepreneurs approach the question of yes and no in this article: https:\/\/www.inc.com\/jim-schleckser\/highly-successful-people-dont-decide-between-yes-a.html<\/a><\/p>\nWHEN SAYING NO CAN BE BENEFICIAL TO BUSINESS<\/strong><\/h3>\nWell, there are lots of ways that saying no can be beneficial to business. Ensuring both you and your business aren\u2019t stretched too thinly. \u00a0It prevents you working on projects that aren\u2019t advantageous. Importantly, it empowers staff to make the right choices about their own workload by giving them the \u2018no\u2019 option. But saying no can also help to build your brand and reputation.<\/p>\n
In my recent biography, Taylor Made<\/a>, I outlined a situation where a client hadn\u2019t paid their bill:<\/p>\n\u201cYou can tell early on if the client has respect for you and if they can afford it. These were quite lacking respect and understanding of what we were trying to create. I had, had enough. The money had been coming all week. It is not that difficult to pay somebody. The money hadn\u2019t been coming all week.<\/em><\/p>\nI pulled the florists. I told the lighting guys to pack up and go home. Then, with their house a bombsite with half unpacked boxes and crew equipment everywhere and their own possessions having been stored away, I walked into to see the host and broke the news to him:<\/em><\/p>\n\u2018It\u2019s off,\u2019 I told him.<\/em><\/p>\n\u2018Nobody is doing anything until the money is in.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\nI turned around and left.<\/em><\/p>\nI sound like a diva. It sounds dramatic. But you have to be as ballsy in saying \u2018no\u2019.<\/em><\/p>\nMiraculously that client, having struggled to arrange the money they owed all week, were able to rustle up a same day bank transfer for the fee outstanding. But something else more important happened that day. My reputation grew as somebody that you don\u2019t mess around. Amongst clients. Amongst suppliers. Amongst my team. Respect is something you must earn. And that day I earnt it in abundance.<\/p>\n
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HOW TO SAY NO IN BUSINESS<\/strong><\/h3>\nThere are many ways you can say no in business while retaining your professional integrity. My main tactic is to thank people for the opportunity, then graciously decline. Sometimes, I will say if there is a reason such as that we are fully booked or can\u2019t take on any more commitments. If it feels right, I will recommend another professional who I feel it may be a better fit for. And sometimes, if it\u2019s a client who is rude or I feel has no respect, I will be bold and assertive as I was in the situation outlined above.<\/p>\n
Other times, what appears to be a good opportunity just doesn\u2019t sit right with you. When that moment comes, you should go with your instinct and have no regrets. But remember there could be ways to shape the opportunity into something that does work. Don\u2019t underestimate the power of negotiation. Like the time I turned down organising the wedding of the century after a mystery phone call to TLC HQ.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt this point I only just twig. I make sure there is no over-excitement or lack of composure in my voice\u2026<\/em><\/p>\nWould I be interested in sponsoring the wedding? In other words, that means to do it for next to nothing in exchange for all the publicity you gain for yourself and your suppliers. I said no.<\/em><\/p>\nI felt it was too much of a risk at that stage in my business. I was nervous about a non-profit making event. I am sure most people would have said yes, and many have asked me when I saw the ten page or so spread in OK! magazine if I regretted it.<\/em><\/p>\nWell \u2013 the thrones and the castle in Ireland looked very lavish\u2026but no. No regrets. If I had done it, it may have opened many doors for me but commercially it was not the right thing to do at that moment in time. I sensed too that by 1999 it was all about their brand and my relationship with the magazine was very young at that stage only to flourish later. As daft as it may sound, I felt that I really would have zero control over the event.<\/em><\/p>\nSo, that is how I turned down the opportunity of organising the wedding of David and Victoria Beckham.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nWhat I really learnt from that scenario was not that I should have said yes, in reality it\u2019s a decision I\u2019ve never regretted. And in business you must own your decisions. The opportunity didn\u2019t feel right as it was.\u00a0 But that doesn\u2019t mean with some gentle persuasion, I couldn\u2019t have made it into a business scenario that would have worked.<\/p>\n
Today, I would approach it differently and have the confidence to negotiate. To do a deal or walk away. Back then, I just declined.<\/p>\n
So, when people ask the question how to say no in business, my advice is this. If there\u2019s an element that\u2019s making you feel uneasy, but the rest of the situation feels right, have the confidence to ask to change it. After all, if you don\u2019t ask you don\u2019t get. If they won\u2019t budge, you\u2019ve not lost anything. If they do, it could just be the opportunity of a lifetime.<\/p>\n
GETTING USED TO SAYING NO<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe best way to start on your journey of saying no more often is to practise. The reasoning behind saying no is because it makes people uncomfortable. We\u2019re built to please. So, next time there is an opportunity comes your way that really doesn\u2019t light up your soul, say no. And see how it feels.<\/p>\n
Look at saying no, not as a negative, but as a way of choosing to do things your own way. Of prioritising your very valuable time and as a building block on the way to achieving your goals. The life you want. Learning to say no, is the first step.<\/p>\n
FURTHER READING:<\/strong><\/h3>\nPsychologists have identified nine ways to help you to say no:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also true that saying yes to everything can be a one-way street to burnout. As well as leading you to work on projects that are unfulfilling, uninspiring, and unprofitable. The most important piece of advice I\u2019ve ever seen is to reframe the question of yes or no, to one of \u2018hell yes\u2019 or no. I\u2019m not overly keen on the Americanism, but the sentiment remains the same. Does the project excite and inspire? Is it something you would want to get up in the morning for? Is that client a brilliant fit for you and your business?<\/p>\n
As you\u2019ll know if you\u2019ve read my previous blogs, I believe gut feeling has a big place in business. You can read more on what some thought leaders feel is the difference between how successful entrepreneurs approach the question of yes and no in this article: https:\/\/www.inc.com\/jim-schleckser\/highly-successful-people-dont-decide-between-yes-a.html<\/a><\/p>\n Well, there are lots of ways that saying no can be beneficial to business. Ensuring both you and your business aren\u2019t stretched too thinly. \u00a0It prevents you working on projects that aren\u2019t advantageous. Importantly, it empowers staff to make the right choices about their own workload by giving them the \u2018no\u2019 option. But saying no can also help to build your brand and reputation.<\/p>\n In my recent biography, Taylor Made<\/a>, I outlined a situation where a client hadn\u2019t paid their bill:<\/p>\n \u201cYou can tell early on if the client has respect for you and if they can afford it. These were quite lacking respect and understanding of what we were trying to create. I had, had enough. The money had been coming all week. It is not that difficult to pay somebody. The money hadn\u2019t been coming all week.<\/em><\/p>\n I pulled the florists. I told the lighting guys to pack up and go home. Then, with their house a bombsite with half unpacked boxes and crew equipment everywhere and their own possessions having been stored away, I walked into to see the host and broke the news to him:<\/em><\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s off,\u2019 I told him.<\/em><\/p>\n \u2018Nobody is doing anything until the money is in.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n I turned around and left.<\/em><\/p>\n I sound like a diva. It sounds dramatic. But you have to be as ballsy in saying \u2018no\u2019.<\/em><\/p>\n Miraculously that client, having struggled to arrange the money they owed all week, were able to rustle up a same day bank transfer for the fee outstanding. But something else more important happened that day. My reputation grew as somebody that you don\u2019t mess around. Amongst clients. Amongst suppliers. Amongst my team. Respect is something you must earn. And that day I earnt it in abundance.<\/p>\n There are many ways you can say no in business while retaining your professional integrity. My main tactic is to thank people for the opportunity, then graciously decline. Sometimes, I will say if there is a reason such as that we are fully booked or can\u2019t take on any more commitments. If it feels right, I will recommend another professional who I feel it may be a better fit for. And sometimes, if it\u2019s a client who is rude or I feel has no respect, I will be bold and assertive as I was in the situation outlined above.<\/p>\n Other times, what appears to be a good opportunity just doesn\u2019t sit right with you. When that moment comes, you should go with your instinct and have no regrets. But remember there could be ways to shape the opportunity into something that does work. Don\u2019t underestimate the power of negotiation. Like the time I turned down organising the wedding of the century after a mystery phone call to TLC HQ.<\/p>\n \u201cAt this point I only just twig. I make sure there is no over-excitement or lack of composure in my voice\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n Would I be interested in sponsoring the wedding? In other words, that means to do it for next to nothing in exchange for all the publicity you gain for yourself and your suppliers. I said no.<\/em><\/p>\n I felt it was too much of a risk at that stage in my business. I was nervous about a non-profit making event. I am sure most people would have said yes, and many have asked me when I saw the ten page or so spread in OK! magazine if I regretted it.<\/em><\/p>\n Well \u2013 the thrones and the castle in Ireland looked very lavish\u2026but no. No regrets. If I had done it, it may have opened many doors for me but commercially it was not the right thing to do at that moment in time. I sensed too that by 1999 it was all about their brand and my relationship with the magazine was very young at that stage only to flourish later. As daft as it may sound, I felt that I really would have zero control over the event.<\/em><\/p>\n So, that is how I turned down the opportunity of organising the wedding of David and Victoria Beckham.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n What I really learnt from that scenario was not that I should have said yes, in reality it\u2019s a decision I\u2019ve never regretted. And in business you must own your decisions. The opportunity didn\u2019t feel right as it was.\u00a0 But that doesn\u2019t mean with some gentle persuasion, I couldn\u2019t have made it into a business scenario that would have worked.<\/p>\n Today, I would approach it differently and have the confidence to negotiate. To do a deal or walk away. Back then, I just declined.<\/p>\n So, when people ask the question how to say no in business, my advice is this. If there\u2019s an element that\u2019s making you feel uneasy, but the rest of the situation feels right, have the confidence to ask to change it. After all, if you don\u2019t ask you don\u2019t get. If they won\u2019t budge, you\u2019ve not lost anything. If they do, it could just be the opportunity of a lifetime.<\/p>\n The best way to start on your journey of saying no more often is to practise. The reasoning behind saying no is because it makes people uncomfortable. We\u2019re built to please. So, next time there is an opportunity comes your way that really doesn\u2019t light up your soul, say no. And see how it feels.<\/p>\n Look at saying no, not as a negative, but as a way of choosing to do things your own way. Of prioritising your very valuable time and as a building block on the way to achieving your goals. The life you want. Learning to say no, is the first step.<\/p>\n Psychologists have identified nine ways to help you to say no:<\/p>\nWHEN SAYING NO CAN BE BENEFICIAL TO BUSINESS<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nHOW TO SAY NO IN BUSINESS<\/strong><\/h3>\n
GETTING USED TO SAYING NO<\/strong><\/h3>\n
FURTHER READING:<\/strong><\/h3>\n