The Consequences of Saying Yes

The difference between successful people and very successful people is that very successful people say no to almost everything- Warren Buffet

I used to say yes to everything. Yes, I’ll go out for drinks. Yes, I’ll help you move this weekend. Yes, I’ll do your shopping for you. But eventually, all of those busy obligations caught up with me and I found myself feeling overwhelmed and stressed out. Saying yes to too many things can have some serious consequences, both in the short-term and long-term. So if you’re feeling overcommitted, it’s time to start saying no more often. Saying no doesn’t mean you’re a bad person – in fact, it can actually be a very healthy thing to do for yourself and your relationships.

Being true professional, saying Yes to your employer is something you adore doing. You believe that by not refusing anything, you’ll be given more responsibilities and have new career opportunities open up. Unfortunately, the fact of employment is often far removed from our expectations. When possibilities or tasks come along, it may be difficult to turn them down due to pressure or convenience, but there are ways to cope with it:

Take responsibility – Don’t blame your boss or others if you find yourself constantly saying yes; it is up to you as a professional to understand what’s most important and communicate appropriately. If this means turning down certain opportunities then do so respectfully.

Prioritize – Learn about the company’s mission and vision before you start working there so that you know which projects would be the most beneficial and will align with what your team is trying to accomplish. This way, when you’re invited to take on something else, it’s clear whether or not it will contribute towards achieving the company’s goals.

Communicate – Don’t just say yes every time, communicate effectively and clearly with your boss. Let them know how much work you are capable of taking on at any given moment, prior to accepting an assignment. This way your boss knows that they should only ask for certain things when it’s convenient for you to complete them in addition to understanding if there are times where their request needs to wait until a future date.

Read : 7 Tips for Saying No Effectively

Be honest – If you try everything above but still find that you are saying yes all of the time, it’s okay to be honest with your boss. Let them know that you enjoy accepting new opportunities but can’t do so when you’re at capacity. This way your manager will know when they should request your help and in what capacity (e.g., sending a quick email versus needing to get involved in a full-blown project.)

Read : Everything You Say Yes To Is Saying No To Something Else

Saying no every now and then is not going to hurt anyone’s feelings, including your boss or their own company goals. In fact, taking on too much work can hurt everyone because it could end up lowering the quality of your deliverables and also create more stress for yourself. So next time someone asks if you have a few minutes to help out or just a moment to talk, take a deep breath and calmly say no.

I think the most important lesson for me is to not say yes when you really should be saying no. Saying no can feel hard, but it’s worth it in order to take care of yourself and those around you that matter. You deserve a life outside your work as well as inside. When we fail to give ourselves this time, we risk running into burnout or worse yet depression if we don’t have any other outlets for our feelings besides what happened at work. Saying yes all the time has consequences on both mental and physical health so make sure you are aware of how much energy you put out there!