It took me a while in my professional career to understand the importance of saying "No".
Developing that skill does not come naturally. The uncomfortable feeling is hard to get over sometimes, especially if you feel worried that rejection may screw up your relationship with your co-workers.
The truth is:
- Nobody will change their perception of you if you have a legitimate reason to push back.
- Know Your OKRs (Objective & Key Results) to understand your current priorities and bandwidth. Communicate it with people.
- Work overload will take its toll on your high performance. It takes away your resources to focus on big thing that deliver high impact.
- Think again if you are the best one to take that request. Don't forget that you can also consult, refer or delegate.- Last but not least, although developing the skill of saying "No" is necessary, I also suggest to make room for a few "Yes" to step out of your comfort zone and try new things.
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