Time management is all about deciding what to do and what not to do. It is, therefore, necessary to learn to say "no."
Many people dread the idea of rejecting others. Furthermore, they can properly justify why they should not say "no":
- With a wider variety of tasks, they fulfill their sense of importance and being part of all happenings in the company.
- They have a clear explanation why due to favors to their colleagues, they cannot complete all their work properly and in time.
- It is an opportunity to postpone tasks which we don't feel like doing.
So let's face it: Not saying "no" is actually a form of procrastination.
When should we say "no"
First, let us remember that service to one person may be at the expense of others. If we say yes to someone, it means that we are putting aside all our previous commitments to other people.
OPEN Forum provides tips on how to recognize when we really should reject:
- Say "no," when you can delegate the task to someone more competent or skilled than you are. If someone asks you for something delegable, you should say, "I think this falls under the Department of XY. Would you ming asking them whether they do it?"
- Refuse notifications that come via email or phone. There are few things that really cannot wait. So if you reject something that distracts you from the task at hand, it only means that you are not changing your order of priorities.
- Say "no" if it is possible to everything that distracts you while completing the two most important tasks you set for the day. Colleagues can be politely declined as follows: "I am in the middle of completing something. I think I'll be finished at about X hrs. Could you please give me a little time and I'll call you then?"
- Refuse meetings, appointments, and conference calls that are not in line with your strategic objectives.
- Say no when it comes to things in which you do not wish to be involved in. Do it politely and with grace.
In terms of time management, too many commitments are not a positive sign. It is only a lack of self-control. Therefore, learning to say "no" means doing favor to ourselves as well as people around us.
-th-