In today’s all-gas no brakes work world, figuring out when and how to say “no” to extra tasks is a key leadership skill. Echelon Front has some solid tips on how to set boundaries without hurting your professional relationships or missing out on growth opportunities.
Assess the Request
When a new task lands on your desk, first ask yourself: Does this fit into the bigger picture of what we’re trying to achieve? Is it a top priority, or can it wait? Should you tackle it yourself, or would it be better to delegate it to someone else on your team? It’s all about weighing the task to make sure it’s handled effectively and assigned to the correct person.
Think About the Importance and Timing
- Importance: How does this task align with your mission and goals? Is it part of what you’re supposed to be focusing on?
- Timing: Look at your current workload. Can you handle more without dropping the ball on what you’re already working on? Where does this new task fit in your priority list?
Strategic Refusal
Understanding your mission helps you see where a task fits or doesn’t fit. If it doesn’t align with your goals, it’s okay to have a chat with someone about why you might need to pass on it. How you handle this conversation is crucial—you don’t want to come off as uncooperative or that you’re not a team player. It’s about making smart decisions to protect your time and energy so you can really drive impact for the overall team and mission.
Here’s how to handle it professionally:
- Be Fact-Based: Example 1: “I can take this on, but I’ll need to push back these other priorities to next week to get it done. Is that okay with you?” This way, you’re adjusting your priorities rather than outright saying no.
- Request More Resources: Example 2: “To meet the deadline for this new task, we’ll need two extra people to accomplish it in the time frame you requested. We can get it done with our current team, but it’ll be tight.” This shows you’re ready to get things done but need a bit more support.
- Explain Your Current Workload: Example 3: “Adding this new task will negatively impact our top three priorities. Can we delay the due date on this for 2-3 weeks until we have our top three priorities completed? If not, assigning this task to another team might be better for immediate completion. In all three examples, I’m trying to help with this task in various ways and offering solutions to this challenge instead of just pushing back and blatantly saying no.
- Key factors for success: Pick and choose your battles. A good default setting is to always help out and provide solutions to challenges. The better your performance track record and the better working relationships you have up and down the chain of command, the more influence and impact you can make as a person, no matter what industry you’re working in.
Maintain Professionalism
The way you communicate your concerns can significantly impact your professional relationships. Maintaining professionalism ensures that your decision is respected and understood. Staying detached from your emotions and checking your ego will allow you to see the bigger picture and support your leadership team with the decisions they make.
- Show Appreciation: Thank the person for thinking of you.
- Stay Upbeat: Focus on your commitment to your team and how you want to maintain quality to drive impact for your organization.
Conclusion
Mastering the art of saying no is crucial for managing priorities and ensuring you’re executing the tasks the business needs to complete. It helps you stay focused on the team’s goals and keeps the mission on track for success. For more tips on navigating workplace challenges and sharpening your leadership skills, check out the courses at academy.echelonfront.com. Get guidance from experienced leadership instructors at Echelon Front to boost your leadership game
