Getting Ahead By Saying "No"

When you are looking towards career advancement, you may have heard advice along the lines of "say yes to every opportunity".  And sometimes, that advice is perfectly fine.  But today, we're going to look at when the better choice is to say "no".

The first consideration is just your time in general.  You might think that you need to say "yes" to everything to be seen as a team player - this is often the stance taken by those new to a job or team.  But, you should also consider whether taking on additional tasks could impact your ability to complete your other work while maintaining the same level of quality.  Saying "no" could allow you to maintain a good work/life balance or keep you from burning yourself out.

Back in Episode 001 - Higher Level Tasks, I talk about how transitioning from process driven tasks to tasks that involve more discretion and judgement helps you advance your career.  These types of tasks are often reserve for the more senior team members and showcase your readiness for promotion.  However, what if a particular tasks isn't in alignment with your personal goals?

In Episode 002 - Individual Development Plan , I outline a template for planning out the future of your career.  If you've taken advantage of the free template, you should have a roadmap that outlines your next two or three positions.  You should also have an action plan of what areas you need to focus on improving in order to reach your next step.

If someone offers an opportunity that isn't in alignment with you career goals or your action plan, saying "Yes" could delay or possibly derail your plans.  You should strongly consider whether that diversion is something you want to take on or whether you should decline the task.

If you feel like you don't have the option to say "no" or if there is some other reason to say "yes", consider using it as leverage in negotiating to be given tasks that ARE in alignment with your IDP as well.

When you lead a team, there are often requests from other organizations.  Saying "no" is often about ensuring that your team's work is in alignment with the team's assigned goals.  Saying "no" could also be about protecting your team from overwork and burnout.

At the executive level, "no" is almost expected.  Decisions are often made based on limited budgets and resources and considerations must be made to the corporate strategy as well, so every decision is about making trade-offs.  Without strong justification and payback, "no" is often the default.

There are plenty of reasons to say "no" when an opportunity is presented.  And if approached properly, can keep you on track to the advancement you are looking for.  If you haven't requested your FREE IDP template, go to the ManagingACareer.com contact page and request one today.