Welcome to Leading People with me , gerry Marais , this week . It's One Simple Thing , where in each episode , I share a quick , actionable tip to help you bring out the best in yourself and others . One Simple Thing is created for young leaders , but hey , us older folks can still learn a thing or two . Ask my dog . He's learned a few new tricks recently .
Here's a question for you how often do you say yes to something you really want to say , no to something you really want to say no to ? Oh , yes , huh , oh no . I've worked with countless professionals who struggle with this , whether it's taking on extra work , agreeing to meetings they don't need to be in , or saying yes to social events out of guilt .
And here's what I've learned To be able to say no to someone else , you've got to first say yes to yourself . Aha , I knew it . The reason so many people struggle with saying no isn't just about time . It's about not being clear on what's truly important to them . Think about it . If you know your core values , it's easier to protect your time .
Your values become your internal compass , not just shifting priorities that someone else can change , not just shifting priorities that someone else can change . So here's one simple thing to try . Before you say yes to a new request , pause and ask yourself does this align with what truly matters to me ?
If you've already committed to family time , a personal goal or an important project , then that's your priority and , instead of just saying no , frame it in a way that reflects your values . Here are some examples of saying no in a confident and assertive way Sorry , that's not going to work for me today . Sorry , I've already committed to something important .
Sorry , I can't take this on right now , but I can suggest an alternative . Sorry , I can't take this on right now , but I can suggest an alternative . Now I know what you're thinking you do . What if the request comes from my boss ? You can't just flat out say no , right , but you can get clarity . You could say something like I'd be happy to help .
However , first , could you let me know which of my current priorities should I deprioritize to make space for this new request ? This shifts the conversation , preserves the relationship with your boss and prevents you from automatically taking on extra work that derails what's most important to you .
And when you practice this , you'll start feeling more in control of your time , less resentful and more focused on what truly matters to you . I know this works because I've seen my clients literally transform their lives after learning how to elegantly say no . Oh yes , try it this week . Start saying yes to yourself and notice what happens .
And that's another One Simple Thing . Thanks for tuning in . Remember small steps can lead to big changes . Test out this One Simple Thing and notice how it transforms your day . Let me know how you get on . Reach out on LinkedIn and connect with me .
Mention the podcast and if you'd like to learn more one simple things , then subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast channel and follow our LinkedIn Leading People page . In our next episode of One Simple Thing , we'll explore another easy way to be a great leader by bringing out the best in yourself and those around you and in between .
You can check out one of my longer conversations with leading people about yes , you've guessed it leading people . So until then , keep exploring and stay curious .