Sometimes.
In fact making some small changes to the circumstances when we use these two little words, can make all the difference. And it takes practice.
Saying 'Yes' More...
...brings help when we are offered it. How often have you turned down support, because it felt easier to say 'No thanks. I'm fine'? How often have you rejected assistance in all sorts of places and circumstances? Sometimes it seems like the thing to do - a force of habit. But saying 'Yes', truly can be a help for you. But there is more. When you say 'Yes', you build relationships with who is offering.
You see, people love to help others and being in a situation where someone else feels thay have helped you out builds the bridge of relationship. It bonds in a most constructive way. Even more, when someone offers to help and it is accepted, they learn too.
When it's someone in your team, they love to help out (they offered!), especially the 'boss'. And what's more, when this happens, they learn to take some of the burden. Sure, it takes time and a little guidance, but it is a truly positive thing. Accepting help, by saying 'Yes' rather than 'No' is a magic tactic to take some of your load off, build a strong bond and develop others too.
Saying 'No' More...
...generates space for you. We 'tend' to say 'No' fairly rarely - especially if our natural tendency is to help out. We also 'tend' to say it when we want to be appreciated. It fufils a need to be needed - so we say 'Yes', in these circumstanmces way too often - and that means that we get overloaded. Saying 'No' more regularly makes others realise that we are not a soft touch. Training others in this way gets them thinking more about other solutuions and frees up your time too.
Find it hard to say 'No'?
Of course you do - in fact most of us do - so develop some coping strategies.
Like putting off a decision for 24 hours (many's the time others will find a different solution in the meantime); being honest and saying that you have someting else on; filling your diary with 'you' time, and sticking to it. A date with yourself becomes sacrosanct time in your diary and non-negotiable.
Try these two shifts in approach to 'Yes' and 'No' and you will find your life becomes more tolerable, it frees up your valuable time and your people will become much more capable and resourceful.
In fact your relationships with those around you, work and home, will improve immeasurably.
But you have to make the first step.
Copyright 2005 Martin Haworth is a Business and Management Coach. He works worldwide, mainly by phone, with small business owners, executives and corporate leaders. He has hundreds of hints, tips and ideas at his website, http://www.coaching-businesses-to-success.com
a>. (Note to editors. Feel free to use this article, wherever you think it might be of value - it would be good if you could include a live link)
...helping you, to help your people, to help your business grow...
SEXUAL HARASSMENT COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION PROCEDUREEvery complaint will be thoroughly investigated.... Read More
Intangible Corporate Assets such as Organizational Capital, Blue Sky and... Read More
Late last year I was presenting a workshop for the... Read More
A trainer dryly discussing how to motivate people in an... Read More
A man drives down the highway each day on his... Read More
Putting a piece of paper in a file folder is... Read More
In the Wizard of Oz, it was "Lions and tigers... Read More
"What do you mean you need to push back the... Read More
What is a Virtual Assistant? A Virtual Assistant is a... Read More
A 'dirt-world' retail business I used to manage had a... Read More
We obtain strategic results by aligning HR mission, vision and... Read More
FINDING DIRECTION: An organization can't succeed without direction. Direction means... Read More
In a competitive world with the need for businesses to... Read More
There are some simple things you can do with your... Read More
If you're like most people, you probably started with wonderful... Read More
Soon after I finished a brief seminar on how to... Read More
"He Hate Me" was the nickname of Rod Smart, a... Read More
A lone ranger is someone who prefers working in solitude... Read More
There are so many ways to jump start your prifits... Read More
Do you know how many customers you have that are... Read More
In a previous life I was a Navy Pilot. Great... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Nearly every office, be it commercial or home-based, may have... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
When the typical new business operator starts a business, they... Read More
Traditionally, in American businesses, the same person occupies the role... Read More
Become a better boss and reap the benefitsAnother interesting study... Read More
Almost, if not all organisations have them, they've been around... Read More
It is easy to spot the difference between a work... Read More
The following question is usually debated a lot amongst IT... Read More
When the stock market crashed in 1929, there were a... Read More
What's everyone's favorite topic around the water cooler? Bad bosses!... Read More
Imagine for a moment this scenario from a frustrated Senior... Read More
Ask most people why they are in business and they... Read More
Best Practices StudiesThese studies can be defined as inquiries into... Read More
How do you select staff for international assignments? It's an... Read More
It seems incongruous that good idea generation can be a... Read More
This article relates to the Compensation and Benefits competency, commonly... Read More
Each day millions of workers spend 8 hours or more... Read More
Business IntelligenceBusiness Intelligence has become a very important activity in... Read More
There are seven essential elements to successful business communication:StructureClarityConsistencyMediumRelevancyPrimacy/RecencyPsychological Rule... Read More
CATEGORIES OF OFFENSES: Most organizations have two categories of offenses... Read More
The point of a quality improvement program should not only... Read More
Picture all the people you know who are dynamic, successful... Read More
Many business owners are sabotaging their business without even realizing... Read More
If you're one of the many executives struggling with finding... Read More
There is no sure fire route to commercial success, but... Read More
Define the Problem First. It seems obvious, but how many... Read More
At this time of tight budgets, the mantra of business... Read More
Many managers believe that treating their team members as responsible... Read More
While it's probably not true to say that the traditional... Read More
For good reason, practically every endeavor in life is rated.... Read More
"We have to be careful it's like a minefield out... Read More
The overriding goal of ISO-14000. (History 1995)As ISO-9000 becomes a... Read More
Marketing gurus are always coming up with new lingo but... Read More
Did you know that an airplane in flight is off... Read More
We all attend many meetings. I'm sure you have been... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
(prez.un.TEE.iz.um) nPresenteeism, a relatively unknown concept, is the complement of... Read More
The candy box is a container for all your favourite... Read More
Q: Why is a great business like a great marching... Read More
Pinpoint your own blocks to assertiveness: fear of disapproval, need... Read More
Usually, we're most interested in communicating outwardly; getting our messages... Read More
As a result of the dot com meltdown and the... Read More
How content and satisfied are American employees? Not very!According to... Read More
How can I make my community of practice truly effective?How... Read More
Business Management |