3 Quick Tips on How To Say No in Hard Situations

No can be such a harsh word. It is after all its own sentence. 

No.

Even writing that was hard. Which is why we rarely say no and don’t follow it up with an explanation as a way to soothe someone’s feelings who we might be hurting or a loved one we are letting down. As humans, we are inclined to want to include more information behind our decision making, and in most cases, that is exactly how to say no gracefully. Herein three quick tips to say no at the hardest times…

Tip 1: Volunteer Work 

Saying no to an organization whose job it is to help others is the hardest no of all. Especially during the holiday season. So let’s rip this band-aid off first. Pick one charity to volunteer for in 2020. This will allow you to say no to the other charities that approach you with a clear conviction that you are devoting your time to the one good cause dearest to your heart. 

Tip 2: Children’s School Obligations

Raise your hand if you chaired the school auction, again, for the third time, because you weren’t able to say no. It’s ok, friend! We’ve all been there. It’s difficult to turn down something that benefits our kids, but sometimes we need to do just that. To spend more time with them at home, or to work on our marriage, or you just got that big promotion at work and it’s going to take a lot more time to accomplish than we ever thought. So how do you say no here? First and foremost, get clear with yourself on why you need to bow out. If you are clear and can give an exact explanation of your reasoning in one sentence, then you are ready to go. If you can’t narrow it down to just one sentence then go back to the drawing board. Maybe you do have the time, you just don’t want to participate. But either way a clear explanation is going to be key.

Tip 3: Something You’ve Already Committed to

This is by far is the hardest no for me. You already committed, the right thing is to follow through, to finish out the obligation and make sure you set clear boundaries at the beginning. If you absolutely can’t finish it out, see Tip 2! Make sure you have a one sentence explanation that is clear, concise and well thought out and you will be able to disengage with class and conviction. 

See, no isn’t so hard to say after all. It just takes a little practice, some finesse, and thought to say it with grace, compassion and a healthy explanation of your reasoning. 

Happy Holiday’s from us here at The Dapper Diplomat and may you say no with grace and love all season long!