Podcast Episode 132 — When to Say No

Here are six times it’s ok.

Lisa Sealey
2 min readNov 6, 2023
Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Today I want to talk about saying no.

If you’ve been around for a while, you’ve probably heard me say that every time you say yes to someone else’s requests for your time, you’re saying no to yourself and your priorities and goals. Here are some other times it’s ok to say no:

When the request isn’t your responsibility.

It is nice to help people. Most of us are wired to do that when we’re asked. But if what the person is asking is not your responsibility, saying no is ok. Especially if you are already overloaded and your work is beginning to suffer.

When the request does not align with your core values.

Most of the time, the people asking you to do something for them know you and who you are. But sometimes, someone asks you to do something that goes against your code of ethics. This can be because they don’t know you — or because they don’t respect you or your code. This is definitely a time to say no.

When the request is something you cannot do.

If your workload already has you stressed out and wondering if you’ll be able to finish your assigned tasks, why take on something else you know you won’t finish? Be honest with the person and let them know you cannot…

--

--

Lisa Sealey

Hi, I’m Lisa. | Organizing | Planning | Time Management | Productivity | Life | Sign up for updates, tips, info, and freebies: www.lisasealey.com/newsletter