WIN SF Event Recap: Getting to No

Over the summer, an intimate group of WIN SF community members got together at Adobe to talk about the seemingly impossible task of saying “no”.

Together, we reflected on why saying “no” can be so difficult, shared stories about times we should have said “no” and exchanged strategies for navigating getting to “no” in the future. A few takeaways are included below:

  1. Take time to think. When a request comes up, take a step back and evaluate the situation before arriving at your decision. Even if the request happens in person, you can politely ask for a few minutes to thoughtfully consider what’s already on your plate before giving an answer.

  2. A decisive “yes” or “no” is better than a “maybe”. When a request comes up, take a moment to consider the request, and then give a clear “yes” or a “no” answer. Giving a decisive answer commands respect and avoids wasting time for both people involved.

  3. Instead of saying “no”, try saying “yes, but” and set clear parameters. For larger requests, consider taking on a portion of the request by setting clear parameters and expectations of what within the request you can accomplish. This allows you to say “yes”, while taking control of what’s on your plate.

  4. The “yes, no, yes” sandwich. By sandwiching a “no”, you’re able to soften the delivery. For example, when someone asks you to take on another project at the last minute, this strategy may sound like this: “Yes, I recognize how important this project is. No, I’m not able to take on another project this week. Yes, I can work on it next week.”

  5. Saying “no” to one thing means saying “yes” to something else. Your time is a limited resource. By saying “no” to weeknight happy hour, you’re saying “yes” to a yoga class. By saying “no” to an additional project at work you’re saying “yes” to committing more time and energy into your current project.

Huge thank you to our friends at Adobe and our WIN SF community for making this event such a success. We’ll see you soon!

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Written by Gabby Andrade. Photos by Chelsea Lin.

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