How to say no and improve your time management

“People are effective because they say no” ~ Peter Drucker

Saying no is perhaps the most underestimated time management skill. Many people consider time management a skill for doing more, when it really is about doing less.

Almost certainly, you have been in a situation where you wanted to say no, but ended up yes to someone. Here’s how you can avoid that:

Why we fail to say no

As described in Essentialism by Greg McKeown, there are two main reasons you’re failing to say no. You may be:

a) Uncertain about how you want to invest your time

b) Afraid of social awkwardness

Personally, I got more comfortable saying no by repetition and by know what’s essential to you. But starting out was difficult.

3 Tips start saying no and stop being busy:

Have a sense of the opportunity cost. By definition, saying yes to something means saying no to something else. Be aware about what you’re missing out by saying yes.

Don’t confuse the decision with the relationship. Sometimes, a person’s request seems like it’s interconnected with our relationship to them. In most cases, it isn’t.

A clear no is better than a vague yes. Other than some may think, an uncommitted yes is not polite, it’s disrespectful towards the other person. Say no when it isn’t a clear yes.

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