This Is How Successful People Say No in Business

This Is How Successful People Say No in Business

The word "no" gets a bad rap in the entrepreneurial community. It can feel like a selfish assault to say "no" to someone when you heavily rely on the help and support of others. And the most successful people know that how you say no can be the difference between maintaining someone's respect and ruining a relationship.

Here are four things successful people do when saying no.

1. Understand the request. Successful people take the time to understand why each request is important to the person asking, as it shows they care even if they don't have time to help. Total immersion in the request for even a very short period of time tells the other person that you value them and what they are trying to achieve.

2. Define your vision. It's crucial to fully understand your own objectives before you can decide which requests you're able to dedicate attention to. Successful people take a "goal first" approach, in which they define their major goals and only agree to help with projects that work toward these goals. Adopting this practice will help you focus on what's most critical at the time, so you can easily say "no" right away to other requests, instead of stalling and wasting time. 3

. Respond quickly. Successful people don't wait to answer requests; they promptly give the other person a yes or no answer. Marinating on requests you know you don't have time for simply because you don't want to say no wastes everyone's time. You'll be more respected for making decisions in a timely manner, even if not everyone likes your choice.

4. Explain why. Explaining the 'why' makes the 'what' simple to digest," "You need to be more than just nice." Successful people aim to be as transparent as possible because they understand that showing the other person their perspective helps them understand both why they have to say no and that it's not personal.

Saying No can be hard but what’s worse is working with people that drain your energy, dull your spark. Think back to why you started your business in the first place. Keep that feeling, that focus.When you’re surrounded by the right people you can serve and support, there is no better feeling. Nurture that good karma and it will energize you and propel you forward.A word for when you do have to say no. Always explain why. Your honesty will be appreciated. It’s helpful to suggest or recommend another resource that might be a better fit for your prospect.