Top Ten Tips for Saying No Day 10: If it’s such a good idea how come everyone is not doing it?

Posted on 19/12/2018 by Leesa Taylor

Tip no 10:  If it’s such a good idea how come everyone is not doing it?

In Raj’s final tip for saying no, he notes that a favourite management technique for saying no is to point out that it isn’t happening elsewhere, so using comparison as a way of saying no.

You can use this policy to point out that other offices, departments or companies aren’t doing what your manager has asked and if you can point to an instance where it has been tried and failed, so much the better.

Leesa Taylor

Business / Life Coach

In a panic? Need some personal support at work? Don’t struggle alone. Short notice appointments are often available.

 

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Top Ten Tips for Saying No Day 9: If a thing is worth doing, it’s worth doing well or not at all…

Posted on 18/12/2018 by Leesa Taylor

Tip no 9: If a thing is worth doing it’s worth doing well or not at all…

For this tip Raj uses a judo analogy where the force of the opponent coming at you is used to their own disadvantage.

If your manager has a new objective for you then what’s the point of doing it if it’s not going to be done properly?  Yes, let’s certainly do it, but let’s do it properly which of course means lots of new resources….

Leesa Taylor

Business / Life Coach

In a panic? Need some personal support at work? Don’t struggle alone. Short notice appointments are often available.

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Top Ten Tips for Saying No Day 8: Do they realise you can’t also do something else?

Posted on 17/12/2018 by Leesa Taylor

Tip no 8: They think its a great idea but do they realise it will mean you can’t also do the great idea they had last week?

One way to scupper a manager’s plans for more work for you, Raj advises us, is to demonstrate that this will mean their other pet project will get impeded by this new project. People don’t like it and will fight you, when you say no but are pulled up short when the sacrifice that will have to made is on their part.

Put the ball back in their court.

Leesa Taylor

Business / Life Coach

In a panic? Need some personal support at work? Don’t struggle alone. Short notice appointments are often available.

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Top Ten Tips for Saying No Day 7: You work in a team so there are always others to check with first

Posted on 13/12/2018 by Leesa Taylor

Tip no 7: Remember you work in a team and so there are always others you have to check with first

If you say “no” to a request you don’t look like a team player so turn this on its head by becoming the most bonded of team players, advises Raj Persaud.

Make it clear you need to check with every team member before you can agree this is a good thing to do. If your team is big enough you are bound to find someone sooner or later who objects and so the idea gets scuppered – but not by you.

The tactics which fulfil your objectives whilst making you seem virtuous are certainly the best!

Leesa Taylor

Business / Life Coach

In a panic? Need some personal support at work? Don’t struggle alone. Short notice appointments are often available.

 

 

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Top Ten Tips for Saying No Day 6: Take the opportunity to bring up things you need from them

Posted on 12/12/2018 by Leesa Taylor

Tip no 6: Take the opportunity to bring up a thing you need from them

One of the most universal, but tacit, laws of human interaction is that of reciprocation, Raj Persaud tells us. So if someone asks you for a favour it would be at least impolite of them not to do one for you in return.

The advice then is to keep a list of favours you need doing ready, to whip out when there is the slightest sign of a favour request coming your way. Survival in the modern office is increasingly  like gunfight at the OK Corral – the fastest on the draw walks away!

Think carefully about the favours you request: don’t waste your wishes! What would most help you further your career or acheive your career objectives? What does the other person have access to that you don’t but could could use? Be prepared!

Leesa Taylor

Business / Life Coach

In a panic? Need some personal support at work? Don’t struggle alone. Short notice appointments are often available.

 

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Top Ten Tips for Saying No Day 5: Ask for clarification

Posted on 09/12/2018 by Leesa Taylor

Tip no 5: Ask for clarification

In one of his best tips yet Raj suggests that you can bombard the person making the request with questions and that pedantry is a most useful weapon here. For example, what happens during the holidays? When they say seven days, do they mean working days?

Because the request may come by memo / email, and since most memos are brief, there will be, as Raj has it, “a universe of meaning open to conjecture – a veritable playground of possibilities.”

Of course the more questions you can ask over a broad time span, the more chance you will get answers back that start to contradict each other and the more complex (and less feasible) the task becomes.

Leesa Taylor

Business / Life Coach

In a panic? Need some personal support at work? Don’t struggle alone. Short notice appointments are often available.

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Top Ten Tips for Saying No Day 4: Bury it in a committee

Posted on 08/12/2018 by Leesa Taylor

Tip no 4: Bury it in a committee

Raj Persaud rightly points out that (especially in the public sector) one of the favourite but least productive activities is having meetings and that they are usually more obstructive than helpful. If you want to say no to something simply take it to a meeting to be discussed and someone there is likely to find a reason not to do it or at least be offended they weren’t already consulted.

Of course you may have to postpone any decisions to a later meeting to allow time for you to research some of the objections or questions raised at the first meeting and report back. Be sure to pack your meeting with as many people with opposing views and interests as you can muster!

Leesa Taylor

Business / Life Coach

In a panic? Need some personal support at work? Call me for short notice appointments!

 

 

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Top Ten Tips for Saying No Day 3: Put the ball back in their court

Posted on 30/11/2018 by Leesa Taylor

Tip No 3: Put the ball back in their court

So here’s our 3rd tip from Raj Persaud. Instead of saying no to your boss, raise issues for them to resolve. For example, did they check with the CEO? Did it go to the management committee? Did they follow the correct protocol (“because I don’t want to tread on anyone’s toes”)? Did they ensure compatability? Does it conflict with other arrangements already in place?

This is a good tip from Raj because, if you are clever and keep an eye on office politics, you may be able to play to your boss’ insecurities or weaknesses. Has he been criticised in the past for not following protocol? Do you sense he gets nervous before attending management committees?

(Incidentally, it should be noted that sometimes rolling up your sleeves and doing a solid day’s work is the best strategy for your career and it’s always a good idea to do the job you were contracted to do!)

Tomorrow – tip no 4!

Leesa Taylor

Business / Life Coach

In a panic? Need some personal support at work? Call me for short notice appointments!

 

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Ten Tips for Saying No Day 2: Play for time – bad light always stops play

Posted on 29/11/2018 by Leesa Taylor

Tip No. 2: Play for time, as in all contests eventually bad light always stops play

This is our 2nd tip from Raj Persaud in The Motivated Mind for saying no. Raj tells us that if you spend long enough not giving people what they want they usually turn to other quicker solutions, discover how to do without your help or learn they never really wanted what they asked of you in the first place. Instead of saying no, say yes, but take so long saying it that it becomes a no in reality.

Raj is spot on, although you need to make your excuses sound and be sure you don’t look like a procrastinator.

This technique is also a great passive aggressive technique for ending a relationship for someone who is unwilling or doesn’t have the guts to tell someone to their face that its all over. Of course it causes more pain and angst overall but, anyway, avoids “the breakup scene”.

Coming tomorrow: Tip No. 3!

Leesa Taylor

Business / Life Coach

In a panic? Need some personal support at work? Call me for short notice appointments!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Ten Tips for Saying No Day 1: How to avoid a job without saying no.

Posted on 27/11/2018 by Leesa Taylor

Dr Raj Persuad in The Motivated Mind comes up with 10 tips for saying no. His first is

Tip No 1: Never say no to armed gunmen or managers.

Psychiatrists advise, when negotiating with terrorists for example, police negotiators never actually say no but instead give answers that play for time. Saying no would provoke a retaliatory response so they don’t appear to say no but in fact avoid giving the person what they ask for.

Remove the word no or any negative response from your vocabulary and become extremely proficient  at getting bogged down in difficulties in fufilling the request.

Politicians often use this tactic when faced with having to deliver a policy that the electorate want or expect but which doesn’t suit the government!

You can use this tactic too! When faced with a request from your manager / boss to do something you don’t want to do, immediately work on finding all the possible difficulties and complications which may delay you having to fulfil the request.

In project management terms, drag out the critical path with as many tasks as you can think of, for example getting many people to sign off the project before it starts and encouraging them to be critical, having many health and safety reviews, consulting the union at every step, checking compliance with equality regulations and then checking with the company lawyers, ordering equipment from suppliers with the longest delivery times, fill in paperwork incorrectly so it has to be returned and rewritten. Have fun thinking up more of your own.

Of course you will need to be sure that you are not seen to be being awkward so always have a very positive manner, look disappointed at the delays and drop hints as to who the real troublemakers are (someone else than you!).

Coming tomorrow: Tip No. 2!

Leesa Taylor

Business / Life Coach

In a panic? Need some personal support at work? Call me for short notice appointments!

 

 

 

 

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