Do you want more simplicity in your life & greater fulfilment in your career?

What if I told you that YOUR freedom is directly related to your ability to say no more often? Yes – it’s true and a real game-changer.

The most successful people I know say NO multiple times a day. But how do you overcome the fear of being judged by others or making someone feel uncomfortable in doing so?

I’m giving you six effective practices that are proven to work, and will remove your guilt of saying “No.”

My tips on how say ‘No’ with Ease:

1. Everything begins with Self-Assurance & Self-Confidence. People pleasers struggle with saying “No” in fear of letting others down. Understanding what your limits & priorities are, is critical to saying ‘No’ (or yes!) with confidence.

2. Like any new skill, it takes practice. Practice saying ‘No’ to small gestures like family gatherings. Over time, saying no to larger asks, such as one from your client or boss, will become less challenging.

3. Before committing to an answer, walk away from the q for a moment. Before you respond, to the text or email, walk away from the request (sleep on it even) & make sure you are in a state of alignment & clarity before responding.

4. Address the question: Is it within my scope or expectations? When grey areas pop up, referring back to contracts, initial agreements, is key so you can specifically state your boundaries & delineate expectations of the relationship.

5. Live with authenticity. When it comes to family, network, & friendships, under commit & over-deliver.

6. Drop the “I am so sorry…” You do NOT need to apologise for being busy, setting boundaries, or being imperfect.

Examples of how to respectfully decline an offer (all are examples of which I’ve used):

“This is outside my scope so unfortunately, I cannot commit to this project. Thank you for thinking of me!”

“No, I am unable to lower my rates for you. This is my standard rate for all clients.”

“Thank you for the offer, I cannot commit to this committee / project right now.”

“I have a few projects on at the moment, so I am unable to schedule anything. Can we circle back in a few months for a different date?”

“Before I accept this offer, can you please be more specific as to what the role entails? I am unclear of the expectations.” >>> waits for response. Response does not align with my immediate or long term priorities. >>> “Thank you so much for explaining the details to me. At this moment, I am unable to take this project on. Please keep me in the loop for future opportunities to collaborate. Thank you!”

“I am really flattered you reached out! At this point, I am completely booked up for 2021, so I will need to decline this offer. Can we stay in touch for 2022?”

“I cannot make dinner plans next week. I am exhausted & need to prioritise a bit more time for myself. Can we catch up in a few weeks?”

We all have needs, but we don’t always voice them or act on them when we need to. Your needs should be your first and foremost priority, and this involves creating boundaries around them. The right people in your life will understand, and if they don’t, that should tell you everything you need to know.

Remember: You are the CEO of your career & your life. You teach people how to treat you, & your TIME (and how you communicate this priority) is your most valuable asset. What’s the point in making everyone else happy apart from you? So go ahead and say no, so you can say YES to yourself.

Love,

Catherine x