#187 | Tips For Saying No At Work With Melody Wilding

Navigating the workplace can sometimes feel like walking a tightrope, especially when it involves saying NO. Luckily, Melody Wilding has tips that work for everyone from Execs of Fortune 500 companies to those in traditional roles to entrepreneurs, all of us at some point have to push back.

Her first tip when it comes to saying no is to start with asking questions. Buying yourself a little time can make all the difference. Instead of a knee-jerk yes or no, start with “When is this due?” or “What should I deprioritize to make this happen?” this can reshape the conversation and help lower the emotion in saying no. It’s all about understanding the real urgency of the task while showing you’re a team player.

Next up Melody reminded us that packing all our identity eggs in the work basket is risky. Diversifying where we get our sense of self and satisfaction from, whether it’s a hobby or spending time with family, helps cushion the blow when work feels off. And remember, small pockets of downtime, like those five spare minutes for deep breaths or a walk, can help you think through those difficult conversations and what your bandwidth really is. It helps to make saying no not feel so scary when your identity and worth isn’t wrapped into work!

Hopefully, these pointers from Melody resonate with you as much as they did with me. If you’re looking to make saying no a little easier or finding more balance, remember these golden nuggets of wisdom!

Timestamps:

12:36 Tips for communicating and listening remotely

15:55 What to do before saying no

21:10 The difference between professional and personal “no’s”

22:23 Two ways to say no in your personal life

24:58 Two ways to say no at work

31:55 Common leadership skills that Melody sees (ownership, EQ, initiative)

34:20 How to recognize stress in yourself and others

37:05 Why we’re not resting well

42:40 What content Melody likes

46:01 High, Low, Hero

Links:

Read Seth Godin’s Book – This Is Strategy

Follow – Jefferson Fisher and Tim Ferris

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