The Snowball Effect: Communication Techniques to Make You Unstoppable



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When you want to say “no” in a way that doesn’t cause you problems

We all get asked to do things that we don’t want to do.

And it’s not always easy to know how to respond. You don’t want to appear unhelpful. But it seems you only have two options, neither of which is very good:

1. Say “yes” and wish you hadn’t – bad for you and possibly them.

2. Say “no” – bad for them and probably you.

But you have another option:

3. Say “I can help you, but not in the way you suggested”.

This is often the best option, for both you and them. They get the outcome they wanted; and you’ve helped them do so. Even better, this approach is relatively straightforward, in that you only have to remember two things:

1. Show willingness to help.

2. Explain that ...