Want Better Time Management? Start Saying No
Lessons learned from a people pleaser.
I have a confession to make. I’m a people pleaser and I’m afraid my people-pleasing ways have rubbed off on my team.
This was a revelation I had a few years back when my team huddled in my office to organize and prioritize our long list of tasks. We would write down all the things that needed to be completed on individual post-it notes, organize them onto huge pieces of chart paper with headings, and then prioritize them from there based on importance.
The visual of seeing the sheer amount of tasks to be completed and the number of tasks asked of my team by others in the organization, which they agreed to, was shocking.
That was the moment I knew I needed to start saying no and train my team to do the same through my own actions. Here’s how I did it.
Get Over Your Need To Be Liked
This is a hard one that was at the root of my problem with time management. I wanted to be liked. I wanted to be helpful. Yet, once I started saying no something interesting happened. People liked (or disliked) me the same. It made no difference. Saying no gets easier the more you do it. People understand and the consequences of saying no you make up in your own mind typically don’t exist.
Let Go Of Control
This can be difficult for any driven, high-achiever. When someone would ask me for my help, I often said yes, as I was worried about the outcome if I said no. If I didn’t help with the proposal would we win the business? If I didn’t drop everything to manage a new market opportunity proposed by a sales leader would they go it alone, create their own campaign, putting the brand in jeopardy? You cannot own it all. Pick the places where you can add the greatest value against your company goals and let the rest go.
Focus On Your Goals
It’s hard to say yes to everything if you’re laser-focused on goal achievement. When you have defined goals, a vision for what you’re trying to achieve, and the determination to see it through to fruition, you will be less inclined to divert your focus to activities that do not bring you closer. The one thing to ensure is your goals and vision of where you’re going are aligned with your organization. When you achieve your goals, it, in turn, helps the organization succeed as well.
Be Definitive
Being specific is key when saying no. If not, you may find yourself in a trap where you are open to further questions. For example, when you say, “I’d love to help but I’m busy at the moment,” it leads to other questions like, “so when are you free?” To avoid this trap, be assertive but friendly and reply with “I can’t help with that at the moment but I will let you know when and if I can help.” With this response, there is no room for a follow-up question.
Prioritize
Similar to focusing on your goals, when you prioritize your tasks and have a game plan for completing them, it’s harder to get off track when the next ask comes in. One tool that is great for prioritizing is the Eisenhower Matrix. It allows you to visually prioritize tasks based on their importance and urgency. Try it out the next time you are overwhelmed by your to-do list.
When You Say Yes, Determine Expectations
There are times when you have to say yes. It would be career-limiting not to. For example, if a senior leader asks you for help on a task that could have long-lasting impacts on the organization, then you should offer your assistance. But you should always ask the person assigning the task, “When do you need this by?” Often, it is a knee-jerk reaction to drop everything to tackle this new task when asked by someone senior but that may not always be their expectation. In fact, they may not need it done for a few weeks, thus allowing you the time to easily work it into your schedule. So, always be sure when you do agree to do a task that you know what the expectations are so you can manage your time accordingly.
Conclusion: To Manage Your Time You Must Be Able To Say No
There will always be more people that need your time and tasks that need your attention. Unfortunately, if you don’t learn to say no, you may find yourself working too much, disengaged, or completely burnt out. To avoid such a fate, practice standing up for yourself at work and protect one of your most valuable resources — your time — at every opportunity.
Michelle Bennett is a seasoned marketer with extensive experience leading high-performing teams for higher education organizations. She is able to live out her passion for learning, leadership development, and the customer experience as the Chief Marketing Officer for Niagara Institute.
