This document provides tips on learning to say no effectively. It discusses that saying no can be difficult due to feelings of guilt but is important to set boundaries and prioritize time. Some key tips include practicing saying no aloud, being honest but not overexplaining reasons for no, sticking to your decision, and using assertive body language. It's important to value your own time and not feel apologetic for saying no. With practice, saying no can get easier and allow focus on higher priorities.

1. Learn to say NO
and mean it

2. • You don’t want to be rude
• You don’t want to ruin the
relationship
• You don’t want to miss out
• You don’t want to feel guilty
THE ROLE OF GUILT IN
SAYING NO
• Saying no is hard for
many of us
• Guilt often comes
into play
• Its beyond our
comfort level

3. • Practice saying no in
front of the mirror
• Look yourself in the eye
and do it
• Experiment different
ways of saying no until
you find the one you are
comfortable with
• Then go ahead and say
no
HOW TO SAY NO
• Honesty is the best policy
• Don't over explain
• Give a reason why

4. • If you are serious about saying
no stick to your word
• If you are comfortable
expressing your reasons then
do so by speaking from
personal perspective
After you say NO

5. • Know your commitments, and how
valuable your time is. Then, when
someone asks you to dedicate some of
your time to a new commitment,
you’ll have a better sense of whether
or not you can do it.
• Even if you do have some extra time,
is this new commitment really the way
you want to spend that time?
• For many of us, the demands on our
time are ever increasing. Working
“smarter” and more efficiently will
help, but may not totally solve the
problem. You may need to accept the
fact that you cannot do it all anymore.
Thus, learning to say “no” becomes
even more crucial.
• AS YOU CONSIDER SAYING
“NO,” HONOUR AND KNOW
YOURSELF
• Value your time
• Know your priorities
• Limits to “working”
smarter.

6. • Practice saying “NO”
• Practice makes repetition. Also, repeating your
“no” may be necessary to get a message
through to extremely persistent people.
• Don’t apologize
• You don’t need to be apologetic about
guarding your time.
• Be nice to yourself
• Be nice to you by guarding your time
• Pre-Empting
• It’s often much easier to pre-empt requests
than to say “no” to them after the request has
been made
• Get back to you
• Instead of providing an immediate answer, say
you’ll give their request some thought and get
back to them.
THE GENTLE
ART OF SAYING
“NO”

7. • The “Wet Lettuce NO”
• If you are going to say no, you must
say it in a way that means no
• The “Mr Angry NO”
• It is done in an aggressive manner and
unhealthy way
• The assertive NO
• NO should be said in a firm yet polite
way
• Use effective body language
• Non verbal communications like eye
contact, head shaking, firm tone should
be used
Tips on how
to say your
NO

8. • You will feel much more confident and
proud
• You will find that practice makes perfect-the
more you confidently say “NO” the easier it
becomes
• Others will respect your wishes and take
you seriously the first time you say “NO”
• You wont find yourself doing things you
never wanted to do in the first place
• You’ll have more time to focus on the things
you do want to be involved in
When you
say NO

9. It is only by saying NO you
can concentrate on the
things that are really
important
- Steve Jobs

10. Envisioned by
B.Maran
nc.maran@gmail.com