Learning to say no at work

Everyone has had a rough day at some point, with a schedule so packed you’re not even sure you’ll manage to get everything done on time. And it’s often at that exact moment that a colleague asks for help or the boss arrives with one of those "urgent" requests. Perfect timing! More often than not, we say yes because we don’t dare say no. The result? A spike in stress, a headache, overtime… nothing particularly positive. Just so you know, it is absolutely possible to say NO. And that’s OK! 

In this article, discover our tips for handling these situations. 

GOOD reasons to say no 

1. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed 

You’re swamped, tasks are piling up on your to-do list, and you don’t know where to start. This isn’t the moment to add yet another item just because your favourite colleague can’t manage on their own. If you take on too much, the quality of your work will noticeably decline; therefore, give yourself sufficient time to complete your tasks before moving on to something else. 

Mind you, if your work suffers, your colleagues may stop asking for help, though your boss might not be quite so pleased… 

2. Avoid disorganisation 

You’ve spent time organising your schedule, you’re not going to let the first person who comes along throw it into chaos. Sticking to your timetable is important, or you’ll end up getting your wires crossed between all your tasks. 

BAD reasons to say no 

1. "I don’t know how to do it"

That’s almost never true! Even if you’re new, inexperienced, or have simply never done this before, give it a go. You’re there to learn as well, and you’ll improve over time, like a fine wine. 

Tip: perhaps avoid staking the company’s survival on your very first attempt! 

2. "I didn’t understand anything" 

Not sure what’s being asked of you? Ask questions! Your colleague is already asking you for a favour, they’re not going to snap at you for seeking clarification. 

It's OK to say no, but with tact! 

You can’t accept, but you don’t want to upset anyone. Follow these few steps to help the message land more smoothly: 

1. Remember to smile. Everything is easier with a warm, genuine smile. 
2. Thank the person. After all, being asked is a compliment to the quality of your work. 
3. Avoid vague answers. Forget “maybe” or “we’ll see”, that only raises false hopes and risks them coming back later. 
4. Above all, stand your ground. No one wants a weather vane as a desk neighbour. 

Take a moment to think 

There’s no need to respond instantly. Give yourself a few minutes, or even a few hours, to assess your workload by asking yourself the right questions. Better to reply later than to say yes or no and regret it. 

So, send a message later in the day. You can even sweeten the pill with an emoji to make it easier to digest. 

Offer a Plan B 

If you genuinely don’t have the time, don’t hesitate to point them towards someone else. Most of the time, you’re not even the best person to handle the request. But since you’re the nicest… 

How do you say no to your manager? 

Now that’s a particularly delicate situation. Naturally, you wouldn’t want to jeopardise a future promotion. If you’re truly overloaded, they should understand. Bear in mind that they may not have a clear picture of your workload. 

And if your manager isn’t especially understanding, you can always consider changing them by browsing the available job offers on Moovijob.com! 

How should you phrase your refusal? 

Now that you’ve learnt these techniques, it’s time for the decisive words. How do you phrase your response so that the "no" goes down as well as possible? 

• Start with "sorry". You don’t actually need to be sorry if you have a good reason, but it’s always more pleasant to hear. 
• Explain why you’re busy. It’s better than leaving the impression you simply don’t want to help. 
• Check whether they’ve already asked someone else who might be able to assist. 
• Ask whether the deadline is truly urgent. If they’re struggling, you can always try to find ways to limit the damage. 
• Clarify that it’s just for this time and that you’re not opposed to helping in general. 

Example you might use: "I’m sorry, I’m a bit tied up as I’ve got this meeting to prepare for today. I don’t think I’ll be able to help this time. Could you check with Patrick?"

There you have it: the magic formula for saying no when you need to. Over to you! 

In the meantime, while you put our advice into practice, do not hesitate to discover more tips on our blog.