File this under ironic as I tend to overfill my plate with responsibilities, but I found another article in my bag regarding something I need to actually start executing on. Actually, it is part of a much larger theme of saved stuff.

The first article is the one from the bag and is Learning to say no at work. Here are the copy-and-pastes of interest.

  • You may take on too much and get burnt out or end up taking on the work of others. Either way, the perception that others have of your performance will suffer
  • If you say “yes” to too many things, you’ll spread yourself too thin and won’t perform well on anything
  • Saying “no” in some cases can actually gain you more respect

The next article was from the Quardev Quarterly newsletter by Mike Kelly in which he talks about saying ‘no’ as a consultant:

Another hallmark of a consultant you can trust is one who turns down work or leaves money on the table. I turn down work for two reasons: availability and lack of experience in what I’m being asked to do. If I am taking a stretch assignment, I let the client know up front. If I finish something early, I deliver it early – even if I have approval to bill for more hours under the current contract. The consulting companies I’ve worked with who do the same are the companies I recommend to my clients when I have no availability. Turning down business that’s not right for you is an important way to build trust because the client can see that you will choose doing the right thing over closing more business.

The common thread between the two is that saying no builds respect and trust, produces better results and improves the quality of your work by not overstretching yourself.