‘No’ is one of the first words we learn, certainly it’s one of the first words we hear. Could this be the reason we don’t like to use it very often?

When it comes to our own productivity, it’s a word that we must get used to in order to reach anywhere near our own potential. When you don’t use ‘no’, you are actually giving up your own control of your time. Not using ‘no’, means ‘yes’. Well thats what people hear when they don’t hear ‘no’.

It’s actually a really hard word to use, it feels negative in an age where positivity and a ‘can do’ attitude is what we are constantly told is the only way to be. If you don’t say ‘no’, but a silent ‘yes’, you will never control your own time, and if you don’t control your own time, you can never be the best you can be.

The only person who can give you the authority to use the damn word is you.

Take a brief moment to think about it. You have been given another load of work by your boss, the fact it’s your boss makes it hard, right? Your boss is the reason you have a job in the first place, so it will feel hard. It’s a comfort zone and the only way to beat a comfort zone is to push through it. The more you say ‘no’, the easier it will become.

Of course, saying ‘no’, is usually a little more subtle than that, it’s probably not wise to just say it for the sake of it, that’s a path to unemployment… By controlling your own time, and making sure you are able to prioritise your work, you will be better prepared to say ‘no’ by telling your boss (or whoever is requesting your efforts), the reasons why you cannot. After all, by correctly managing your time, you will have prioritised your effort to the benefit of the business. What boss would not appreciate that?

So, saying ‘no’ on its own is clearly enough. It’s a piece of the larger puzzle, but the truth remains, you have to consider how you can say ‘no’, maintain your own credibility and be the leader of your own destiny.

Take your time, take a deep breath, consider your situation and be honest and bold.