Negotiated “No” - Negotiate with the other person to find a solution that meets his or her needs, but doesn’t overload you. You might negotiate the deadline or the scope of the project. For example, you might say, “I can take on this project if you can provide some help” or “I won’t be able to do it until tomorrow, but I could provide you with resources if you need to do it today”. You could even suggest another person who might be better suited for the task. By negotiating, this tells the other person that you’re willing to help, but want to be realistic at the same time.

What if your boss is making the request? You can still negotiate with your boss. Let’s say your boss gives you an assignment that he needs completed by the end of the week. Given your current workload, you know it will require 12-hour work days. Share with your boss what you’re already working on. He may not even be aware of your current workload. Ask for help in deciding where the new task is on the list of priorities, or ask what your boss would allow you to give up in order to complete the new task.

By saying “no” or negotiating with the other person, you’re able to protect yourself from becoming overloaded and overwhelmed. By saying “no” to the less important things, you’re saying “yes” to your most important priorities.

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