INTHEBLACK November 2025 - Magazine - Page 51
able to say you’re not able to make the meeting
because you’re not clear on the agenda. But, if
they help you to understand the outcomes they
want to achieve, you can see whether you’ll be
able to attend.”
If what is being asked is not a priority
at the time, it is not a “hard no”, but a timing
issue. “Communicate that you need to press
pause this time, but give a time horizon. You
might indicate that you’ll be able to start work
on the task in a couple of days, a week or a
month,” Johnson adds.
The third option is a “no, unless…” situation.
This is when a piece of work is important,
but there are other factors that will impact
its effectiveness.
“In this situation, you might say, ‘I’d like
to help you, but I will need an additional
resource or I’ll need to reduce my workload
to be able to give the task the attention
it needs’,” Johnson says.
KINDNESS COUNTS
Context is particularly important when it comes
to declining tasks at work. Being able to push
back in a constructive way requires a solid
relationship of trust between two parties that
has developed over time.
“Being able to say ‘no’ is based on initiating
positive dialogue in your workplace with your
team leader and with your team around what
you are doing, what you are contributing
intheblack.cpaaustralia.com.au 51
