Yes, it's hard to say no when you run a business. However, saying no to opportunities is part of finding a work-balance balance. To find out if there's a right way to turn down potential opportunities, we asked YEC members to share how they say no in high-pressure situations to protect their work-life balance.
How have you mastered the art of saying no in high-pressure job situations to maintain a healthy work-life balance, and what advice would you give to others struggling with this?
1. Avoid giving a flat no
I have mastered the art of saying no by not saying no. Instead, I’ll respond with “not today because…" or "not right now because…" If it’s a high pressure situation, chances are, the person asking for something is also under pressure. A flat no isn’t going to help them, so I try to frame my responses so the person knows I will still help them and explain why it cannot be right away. I find a little empathy goes a very long way, and not saying no avoids a potential feeling of rejection. Saying "not now because" helps me manage my time more effectively and finish the tasks at hand. —Abhijeet Kaldate, Astra WordPress Theme
2. Share what's on your plate
Learning to say no in high-pressure job moments has been a game-changer for keeping my work-life balance in check. It's about knowing your limits and being okay with setting boundaries. At first, I worried about letting people down or missing out, but I realized it's more about protecting my energy and ensuring I can give my best where it counts.
So, here's what I do: I chat openly about what's already on my plate and suggest different ways to get things done if I can't take on something new. It wasn't easy initially, but practicing with the small stuff helped build my no-muscle. If you need help with this, start with the little asks and work your way up. Be clear about what you can handle and why you're saying no. It's not about shutting down opportunities; it's about ensuring you're not stretching yourself too thin.
Trust me, being honest and upfront about your bandwidth helps you stay sane and keeps your work quality top-notch. And everyone around you will eventually understand that you're all about giving your best, not just saying yes to everything. —Kristin Kimberly Marquet, Marquet Media, LLC
3. Remember, you have a right to say no
One of the ways I've mastered saying no in high-pressure situations is to always be honest with my feelings. If you have a difficult time saying no, then it wouldn't hurt to see a therapist to work on being in tune with your feelings and to be brave enough to listen to them. A therapist can help people-pleasers see that being unable to say no is actually being selfish because you may be afraid to respect your inner truth.
With practice, however, you can become more confident at saying no. For example, first, be clear when saying no. Stay away from weak phrases such as "maybe" or "I'll think about it." Second, don't procrastinate saying no. Have respect for the other person and tell them no as soon as you can so they have time to make other plans. Remember, you have a right to say no, so you don't need to ask permission, make excuses, or defend yourself. Sometimes talking to a therapist can help you find your inner power to say no. —Shu Saito, All Filters
4. Justify your no with logical reasoning
Saying no in high-pressure job situations can be challenging. However, it's not about what you say—it's about how you say it. Blatantly declining something that's asked of you may just come out wrong. But if you pair it with logical reasoning, convincing the other person may not be that difficult. Some people just say yes to everything because they're people pleasers. They always want to stay in the good books of others and thus find it difficult to say no to others. Others are just way too direct and say no to things instantly the moment they feel what comes their way will affect their work-life balance. The key is finding the right balance and presenting your answer with a proper explanation. Don't just say no to things that are asked of you. Justify your answer with logical reasoning. —Stephanie Wells, Formidable Forms
5. Say no if you can't fully deliver
For long-term success, it’s better to say no when you know that you cannot be 100% successful to the project or needs. As a business owner, I understand the need to take on clients or jobs, but your retention is more important than making a few extra dollars. In fact, you would most likely gain respect and appreciation from clients when they see that your quality of output is more important than the quantity. I’ve retained consistent clients with this exact mentality because my willingness to be honest has gained trust and reliability. I would rather say no, than say yes and underdeliver. Saying yes when you know you should say no is a scarcity mindset and will definitely cause anxiety throughout the process. —Ariya Malek, Educational Awakening Center
6. Set boundaries showing your commitment to quality
To say no in high-pressure situations, understand your priorities, communicate clearly, and offer alternatives. Say, "I'm at capacity; can we reprioritize?" Remember, setting boundaries shows commitment to quality. Practice in low-stakes situations to build confidence. —Nic DeAngelo, Saint Investment
8. Try not to feel guilty
The biggest issue that stops people from saying no is guilt, which comes from wanting to help others or please them. I find that it's not easy to stop this feeling entirely—and perhaps it's not necessary to fight it either, because there are times when saying yes has led to better outcomes. However, I suggest acknowledging the feeling of guilt and simply letting it be. It's okay to experience a range of emotions, including guilt, without doing anything about it. Soon enough, this feeling becomes "neutral" and you become more comfortable saying no. Other times, it will trigger you to do the right thing and help people when they need it. —Blair Williams, MemberPress
