Say NO!
>> Sunday, August 9, 2009
One day President Lyndon Johnson called the Galbraith house wanting to talk to the great economist. “He is taking a little shut-eye and has left strict orders not to be disturbed,” said the housekeeper.
Johnson replied, “Well, I am the President. Wake him up!” The response: “I’m sorry, Mr. President, but I work for Mr. Galbraith, not for you.” Click.
If only it were that easy for the rest of us. Saying no can be awkward, guilt-inducing, nerve-wracking, embarrassing, and even risky to friendship and career. People often err in one direction or another, prioritizing either the relationship by saying yes when they long to say no or their own power by brusquely saying no and alienating the person they are dealing with. Then there is the ever-popular route of avoidance – saying nothing at all and gaining neither what you want nor goodwill.
Although we may intuitively understand how to effectively say no, we often don’t because of other concerns swirling in our head. To say yes to the right things you have to say no to a lot of other things. Actually, delivering a respectful, decisive no can paradoxically strengthen your relationship with the person on the receiving end. Just consider what happened when Galbraith woke from his nap and returned Johnson’s call “Who is that woman?” the President asked, inquiring about the housekeeper who had dared tell him no. “I want her working for me.”
Is this an issue for you? Do you have that uneasy sense that your life really belongs to everyone else? How do you handle it when people want you to buy something you don’t want or when they ask you to do something you don’t want to do? Who is responsible for getting that back in balance? Consider hiring a coach to work with you.
Give me a call 425-275-7371
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Johnson replied, “Well, I am the President. Wake him up!” The response: “I’m sorry, Mr. President, but I work for Mr. Galbraith, not for you.” Click.
If only it were that easy for the rest of us. Saying no can be awkward, guilt-inducing, nerve-wracking, embarrassing, and even risky to friendship and career. People often err in one direction or another, prioritizing either the relationship by saying yes when they long to say no or their own power by brusquely saying no and alienating the person they are dealing with. Then there is the ever-popular route of avoidance – saying nothing at all and gaining neither what you want nor goodwill.
Although we may intuitively understand how to effectively say no, we often don’t because of other concerns swirling in our head. To say yes to the right things you have to say no to a lot of other things. Actually, delivering a respectful, decisive no can paradoxically strengthen your relationship with the person on the receiving end. Just consider what happened when Galbraith woke from his nap and returned Johnson’s call “Who is that woman?” the President asked, inquiring about the housekeeper who had dared tell him no. “I want her working for me.”
Is this an issue for you? Do you have that uneasy sense that your life really belongs to everyone else? How do you handle it when people want you to buy something you don’t want or when they ask you to do something you don’t want to do? Who is responsible for getting that back in balance? Consider hiring a coach to work with you.
Give me a call 425-275-7371
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