Say No Without Hurting Feelings

Say no clearly without turning it into a whole speech.

The hard part is not always courage. Sometimes it is finding a line that is kind, short, and still actually says no.

Before / After

When someone asks for something you cannot take on

Before:"I don't know, maybe, I have a lot going on"

After:"I cannot take that on, but I really appreciate you thinking of me."

Say It helps you shape the line before you send it or say it out loud.

Use It When

You need a no that does not wobble.

  • You are tempted to overexplain.
  • You do not want to sound cold.
  • You need the person to understand the answer is final.
  • You want to say it out loud without freezing.