4 Ways to Get Better at Saying No
There is power in the word NO, just ask any toddler!
But if you’re anything like me, the disease to please often leads to a default YES—or at least a MAYBE.
Problem is, that results in total overwhelm and resentment. No one wants a life controlled by the whims and desires of others. So how do you put yourself back in the driver’s seat and get better at saying NO?
In Episode 39, Val Geisler shared her framework for wielding the power of NO. Today, I’m taking a closer look at this idea, offering my four best strategies for turning down requests gracefully and using language with a built-in NO.
I explain the benefits of getting clear on what you want, avoiding empty promises, and creating boundaries in your own life. Listen in for insight on the social conditioning that makes us fear NO and learn how earn respect by being more strategic with your time.
The Startup Pregnant Podcast Episode #040
Some quotes from the episode
- “If you have clarity around what you want, you can use that to start to figure out what to say YES to and what to say NO to.”
- “It’s rare to hear female voices. We expect them to be seen and not heard, and so when they do speak up we weigh it more heavily than just a ‘regular’ person speaking.”
- “One thing that I’m personally trying to do is to say what I mean, to practice integrity with my words, and to build in ‘no.’”
- “You have to say NO more than you say YES.”
- “Once you start saying NO, it can actually get really fun.”
- “People respect your time more when you set boundaries.”
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Val Geisler on Startup Pregnant
- Implicit Bias Study
- Sara Mauskopf on Startup Pregnant
THE STARTUP PREGNANT PODCAST & HOST
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- Email hello@startuppregnant.com
I love your advice to set boundaries ahead of time so when it’s time to say “no” it doesn’t feel as harsh. Our set boundaries include x, y and z and that doesn’t fit within the parameters. Also, I struggle with saying no, then struggle with feeling overwhelmed and worn down. I never thought of it in the “what is most important” way, but it makes sense. Thanks for the insight, I’m going to practice “no.”
OMG I totally resonate with the whole idea of when you say “no” to things, people start to respect your time more. This has been a long time struggle for me and just recently, I’ve been saying no and it’s very empowering. I still find myself slipping up… so it’s a work in progress, but I didn’t realize that people were respecting my time more until I heard you say it. It actually is making more excited to say no!