Eight Polite Refusal Strategies
Sometimes you just need to say no to people . Maybe it’s a friend asking for a favor and you can’t. Maybe your boss is asking if you have time for another project and you don’t. Whatever the scenario, here are some polite ways to say no to someone.
On LinkedIn, Professor Wharton Adam Grant lists eight different polite refusal strategies. Here are a few highlights:
Postponement : “I’m in a quandary right now, but feel free to follow the news.”
Direction : “I have no right to do what you ask, but here’s something else.”
Introduction : “This is not in my wheelhouse, but I know someone who can be of use to you.”
Which strategy you choose depends on the situation, but they each have something in common: you say no, but you also offer a solution. This is not a solution you can help with, but it does offer some direction for the person asking. It also tells them that you respect their needs; you simply cannot offer immediate help.
Grant offers five more effective ways to politely refuse services, and you can check them out in the full article below.
8 Ways To Say No Without Damaging Your Image | LinkedIn