Really, it’s okay to say “no” at work.

We have been taught to say, “Yes.” We are told to seize every opportunity and to always try to be people- pleasers. As a society, we almost glorify the word busy. I will be the first to admit that I like being busy. I would rather have a hundred things on my plate than nothing at all. But what is that doing to my productivity and my mental state?

It’s great to be able to take on challenges and new projects at work. After all, we are here to work hard but how do we learn to say “no” when the deadline or workload is not realistic?

It will probably be a slow process for most, but it’s important to remember that saying “no” is in your vocabulary. People respond well to honesty and to reality. Everyone deserves a balanced life-work experience. You never know, if you back off in few areas, you may be opening up your creativity which can lead to innovation and productivity that really means something to your work.

On top of learning to say the word no, you have to be willing to hear the word no, too!

Here at Coloff Digital, we will always provide you with a realistic timeline for your project. It’s important to us to produce quality over quantity. You can get that cookie-cutter experience somewhere else. We will determine how much time we need to deliver quality work, and how the project fits into the existing workload. We will be willing to contribute one way or another.

Just remind yourself that saying “no” may lead to more time to say “yes.”

“When you say yes to others, make sure you are not saying no to yourself.” – Paulo Coelho