When declining work requests, it is essential to give a clear and firm 'no' without leaving any room for ambiguity. Softening can be done after delivering the clear 'no.' Signaling that you are careful about managing your time earns you credibility and trust, making it easier for others to accept your refusal. By explaining that you track your time and need to assess priorities before committing, you establish a reputation of being organized and reliable, which helps in communicating no effectively.
Cal Newport is a computer science professor at Georgetown University, a productivity expert and an author.
If you’ve ever felt that you’re not as productive as you could be, you’re not alone. But what if the goal isn't to be more productive, but to let go of the goals that aren't serving you? What if the power of saying no to more things is the most important skill you can develop?
Expect to learn what our current problem with being productive is, why pseudo-productivity is a catastrophe, the advantages to what Cal calls Slow Productivity, how to better organise your communication, the best strategies for implementing a productivity schedule, how to stop saying yes all the time and much more...