Often times,
we are scared to say ‘no’ even if we want to, even if we need to.
Suppose a
friend asks you for ‘help’ to complete a project. You know that you are
extremely busy and you don’t have the time for the ‘help’ requested. Being scared
of offending a friend you just accept the request without proper thinking. This
is lack of ‘assertiveness’. It will lead to a greater problem when the relevant
time comes. If you help, you will consider in your mind that your friend is inconsiderate
because your own work is suffering. If you don’t, your friend will be upset
because you have gone back from your commitment and let him/her down.
So, what
should you do?
Develop assertiveness.
It’s developing your ability to say ‘no’ when you need to say ‘no’. But you have
to say it in a manner that it does not offend your friend. You must use your
language and articulate your inability in such words and such tone that your
friend appreciates your position rather than feeling upset. The same holds good
for your colleagues in office and others.
