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Six Ways to Say No!


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Six Ways to Say No! By Lynn Berardo
In her books Coming Up for Air and How to Build a Balanced Life in a Workaholic World and on her Web site comingupforair.com, author Beth Sawi offers a multitude of easy-to-implement techniques for gaining a better quality of life. One important tool, she says, is the ability to say "no" and show that you mean it. Many people don't say "no" often enough because they don't know how, Sawi says. An unadorned "no" seems too curt and rude. Yet, embellishments seem to obscure the message and perpetuate the discussion until your "no" is somehow twisted into a reluctant "yes." Therefore, you need a satchel full of catch phrases that constitute polite but firm refusals. To help you remember these handy phrases, I have categorized them into six timesaving categories: prioritizing, delegating, simplifying, setting time limits, procrastinating and eliminating. Prioritize: "I am sorry I can't help with that. I have so many other commitments, I can't add anything more to my plate." Delegate: "I am sorry I won't be able to help you. Have you asked Ms. X or Mr. Y? They might be able to help." Simplify: "I can't commit to everything you are asking for, but if there is something simple I can do, let me know." Set Time Limits: "I am tight on time these days so I could only spend a few minutes on your project." Procrastinate: "I really can't commit to that now. Maybe some other time." Eliminate: "I am sorry. I don't have the time to do that kind of activity anymore."

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www.comingupforair.com Beth Sawi's Web site offers a multitude of easy-to-implement techniques for gaining a better quality of life.
Coming up for Air: How to Build a Balanced Life in a Workaholic World by Beth Sawi. (Hyperion, 2000, $18.20). This price, equivalent to 24% off the retail price, is available only through the BeyondWork link to Barnes & Noble books.
Keeping Work Simple: 500 Tips, Rules and Tools by Don Aslett (Storey Communications Inc, 1997, $6.61). This price, equivalent to 34% off the retail price, is available only through the BeyondWork link to Barnes & Noble books.
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff: Simple Ways to Minimize Stress and Conflict While Bringing Out the Best in Yourself and Others by Richard Carlson. (Hyperion, 1998, $10.21). This price, equivalent to 15% off the retail price, is available only through the BeyondWork link to Barnes & Noble books.