Daily Leadership Thought #122 – Know When To Say No
Almost everyone I know these days feels that there is too much to do and not enough time to accomplish it. They speak of the virtues of life balance but bemoan the difficulty of making this happen in their own lives. The problem is not time. The problem often lies in how an individual views time and the decisions they make from this perspective.
How many books or articles do we have to read about someone who suddenly has minimal time left to live and achieves clarity about what is important before we get the lesson? When there is a genuine sense of urgency about time, the unimportant things usually fall by the wayside. When there is a lack of time, it becomes easier to know when to say “NO,” which creates space to say “YES” to the right things.
If you were to take a step back and honestly reflect on your perception and use of time, you would discover that most of the stress related to time management is self-imposed:
- We spend too much money on things that won’t bring us happiness, only to end up working too hard and stressing out trying to afford them.
- We tend to prioritise immediate gratification in our diet and lifestyle choices, often neglecting the necessary exercise to compensate for these choices.
- We make career choices based on what others think rather than what truly ignites our passion and talents.
- We tell the boss what they want to hear rather than being honest with them and ourselves.
- Instead of being honest with ourselves and our spouse or partner, we often give them what we think they want to hear.
- We volunteer for too many causes and then can’t spend sufficient time on any one.
- We sign our kids up for too many activities and struggle with the logistics associated with these decisions.
- We stay connected to the people who bring us down rather than investing in people who lift us up.
- We take on the problems and troubles of others while ignoring our own issues.
I understand how difficult it is to say “NO” when you have been conditioned to say “YES.” It seems so much easier to say “YES” and deal with the consequences later, but it is not easier. Time is finite. Once it is spent, you never get it back. Spend your time wisely. Say “YES” to the people and opportunities that truly matter to you. Avoid distractions. Ground yourself in a personal value system that guides your judgment and lessens your load by embracing your ability to say “NO.”
Related articles
- Time management: Tips to reduce stress and improve productivity (theislamicworkplace.com)
- The Four C’s of Simplicity: Part One (monicaricci.typepad.com)
- How to Say “No” (workawesome.com)
- Separating the Urgent and the Important (thesimpledollar.com)
- What could YOU do in 5 minutes? (jwfinancialcoaching.com)
