How to Say “No” When You’ve Already Said “Yes”
The decision is only sometimes worth changing, and if you still need to do it, simple steps will help you refuse and maintain normal relations.
Imagine a colleague approaching you during your workday and offering to chair a community service committee. Without further hesitation, you instantly agree.
What can you think about? It is such a great opportunity!
A week passes. And now you’re sitting at your laptop with your work email open, where emails are constantly coming in, and there’s no room in your calendar for the most essential things.
Suddenly, you realize that you have overestimated your strength and need to give up before it’s too late. But you already agreed. And now, what can I do?
Saying “no” is always tricky. If you answered “yes” confidently, you must be aware of the potential consequences of going back on your word. Your concern about damaging your relationship with your team or being perceived as unreliable is not unfounded.
