INTHEBLACK November 2025 - Magazine - Page 50
WORK SMART
Ways to say
‘no’ at work
The ability to say “no” effectively is crucial for maintaining sound workplace
communication. Here are three strategic approaches for declining requests,
while asserting boundaries and fostering a polite, collaborative environment.
Words Alexandra Cain
NAVIGATING THE WORKPLACE OFTEN
requires a delicate balance between being
helpful and maintaining personal boundaries.
While it may seem straightforward to say
“yes” or “no” when asked to perform a task,
declining a request requires nuance to ensure
that workplace relationships are supported
and strengthened. Understanding how to
say “no” effectively is crucial for maintaining
professionalism — and a manageable workload.
THREE OPTIONS
While saying “yes” or “no” is ostensibly binary,
there are several potential approaches to saying
“no” at work without conflict. The first is a
“hard no”, which can be appropriate when
50 INTHEBLACK November 2025
a piece of work does not align to individual
or organisational values.
“You might be asked to take a shortcut
in a task you know is an integrity issue that
is going to have a negative impact on the
business, client or a person. Be clear that
it is not possible for you to do what’s asked
due to a mismatch of values,” says
Shelley Johnson, founder of HR and leadership
consultancy Boldside.
The second option is a “not-now no”,
which is usually a sequencing or capacity issue.
It is easy to get stuck on this option when
everything feels like a priority.
A “not-now no” includes invitations
to pointless meetings, Johnson says. “It is being
