How to Politely Say No to Your Boss

How to Say No to Your Boss Politely

Career Counseling April 25, 2023

How to Politely Say No to Your Boss

The Right Way to Say “No” at Work—Even to Your Boss

Saying "no" to your boss, manager, or supervisor can be daunting. When you accept a job, you commit to following the instructions of those in charge. Nonetheless, it's important to remember that saying "yes" to everything isn't always the best option.
 
There may come a time in your career when saying "no" is necessary to maintain the quality of your work or adhere to your ethical principles.
 
The question is, how do you say no effectively, without risking the loss of your job?

Why Saying "No" is Important

As employees, we often assume the only response to a manager or supervisor is “yes”. However, there are genuine reasons why you may need to refuse to do something from time to time. Some of the most common reasons to consider saying no include:

• Lack of time: If you don’t have enough time in your schedule to handle a task correctly, your supervisor would probably rather you refuse the task than rush through it.
  
  
• Ethics: If your manager requests something unlawful or unethical from you, it is within your rights to refuse. Your manager can only ask so much of you.
  
  
• Unreasonable demands: Just because you’re an employee doesn’t mean you’re at your manager’s beck and call. You can refuse unreasonable demands, like a request for you to work in your personal time.
  
  
• Knowledge gaps: If you don’t have the skills required to complete a task, your manager needs to be made aware of this. They may provide training so you can say “yes” in the future.

 

• Better options: If you know someone who might be better-suited to the task than you, your manager may ask you to suggest an alternative.

Strategies for Saying “No” Professionally

​The first step in saying “no” to your boss or another peer in your organization is making sure you plan properly. Simply saying “no” without a valid and logical reason (like one of the options above) can make you look unprofessional. When saying no:

• Explain: Highlight the reason for your refusal and express why you need to say no in clear, concise terms, while remaining courteous and graceful. For instance, you can say, “I’m sorry but I don’t feel capable of taking on this task right now, as I’m currently dealing with more than my usual workload.”

 

• Show respect: Apologize for saying no (if necessary) and express gratitude for your supervisor considering you for the task. For instance, you could say, “Thank you so much for thinking of me for something this important. Unfortunately, I don’t have enough time to give this task my full attention.”

 

• Empathize: Let your manager know you understand the task is important, but that your situation makes it impossible for you to deliver what they’re asking for. You might say, “I appreciate this is an extremely important task, and I’m honored you thought of me. However, I don’t have the right skills for that project.”

 

• Be direct: If you feel you are fully justified to refuse a superior (perhaps for legal or ethical reasons), don’t beat around the bush. Be direct, but polite. A professional but straightforward tone is a great way to avoid any confusion.

 

• Suggest someone else: If you’re given a task you can’t accomplish with your skillset, or you don’t have time to finish, consider suggesting someone else who is qualified. For instance, you might say, “I’m not particularly strong in that area, but I know [name] recently completed a course on that topic.”
  
  
• Acknowledge the balance of authority: Reminding your supervisor that you know they’re in charge can help the refusal go down a little more smoothly. For instance, you could say, “I understand it’s totally up to you to decide who to assign to this task, but given my busy schedule, I think [name] would be better equipped for the job.
  
  
• Get the timing right: If your manager sends you an email asking you to do a task you can’t complete, you may need to give it a few minutes before you approach the supervisor with your refusal.
  
  
• Suggest another way: If the problem you have is in the process itself, suggest another way of achieving the same outcome. For instance, if your employer asks you to travel overseas to meet with a client, you could suggest setting up a video call where you can pitch the same information while reducing travel costs.

 Pay attention to how your supervisor responds when you say “no”, as this will help you use the right strategies in the future.

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SOURCE: https://www.market-connections.net/blog/how-to-politely-say-no-to-your-boss

You may also like:

• How to Give Feedback to Your Boss

             (https://www.market-connections.net/blog/how-to-give-feedback-to-your-boss)

• When the Boss is Burned Out

             (https://www.market-connections.net/blog/when-the-boss-is-burned-out)

• Easy Ways to Impress Your Boss

            (https://www.market-connections.net/blog/easy-ways-to-impress-your-boss)

About the Author

Mandy Fard is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, CMRW) and Recruiter with decades of experience in assisting job seekers, working directly with employers in multiple industries, and writing proven-effective resumes.
 
Feel free to connect with Mandy Fard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandyfard/
 
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