How to Say No at Work
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Have you ever been in a situation where you already have a heavy workload, but the moment your boss asks you to do something, you immediately say “yes,” to appease them anyway? Unfortunately, many professionals take on more projects than they can handle because they don’t want to tell their bosses “no.” Eventually, a chronic heavy workload affect your job performance, but may not actually serve the goals of a company in the end.
Before you respond to your boss’s request, consider the following tips:
Communicate your workload
Your boss may not know how much work you already have on your plate. It doesn’t hurt to have a one-on-one conversation with them in which you share your current workload and how there isn’t room for more projects unless you change priorities.
Showing your boss your scope of work will allow them to understand your workload so that they can better understand why you may be hesitant to take on more.
Furthermore, you should also try to understand more about the scope of what your boss is asking. Is it quick project or will it require long term effort?
You may find that your boss will choose to refrain from giving you another project or they’ll rearrange priorities so that you can fit the new project into your workload.
The most persuasive reason to not take on more work is to show your boss how doing so will make existing business goals suffer.
Say “yes” but negotiate the deadline
There may be times when you are able to work on a project but not immediately.
You can always negotiate the timeline of a new project if you need more time to work on an existing one. Remember, you want to deliver the best work possible in any role. If an additional project hinders your ability to do so, let your boss know.
The hard truth is that some workplaces expect workers to always say yes and take on more work than a 40 hour work week can hold. If this sort of work-culture runs rampant in your office, you have a right to stick to what you agreed upon when you originally accepted the role.
However, you should know that this can sometimes come with tension as it can run against the grain of the work culture. If a job is no longer serving your career goals or health, it could be time to look for a new position at a company that more closely aligns with your values.