HBR Guide to Being More Productive (HBR Guide Series)

CHAPTER 10

How to Say No to Taking On More Work

by Rebecca Knight

Sometimes you have too much on your plate or you’re just not interested in taking on a project you’ve been asked to work on. You might not have a choice in the matter, but if you do, how do you turn down the opportunity in a way that won’t offend the person who’s asked you? How can you avoid being labeled “not a team player” or “difficult to work with”?

What the Experts Say

For most of us, saying no doesn’t come naturally. You feel lousy disappointing a colleague, guilty about turning down your boss, and anxious denying a client’s request. “You don’t want to be seen as ‘no person,’” says Karen Dillon, author of HBR Guide to Office Politics. “You want to be viewed as a ‘yes person,’ ...