It is always faster to do nothing than to do anything. This sentence reminds me of an old computer programming adage that goes, "Remember, no code is quicker than no code." In other spheres of life, the same idea applies. There is no meeting that goes faster than not holding one at all, for example. There are many ways to receive feedback, writes Ben Franklin. The first effective feedback system is measurement. Good coaches can track your progress, find small ways to improve, he says. In many cases, it is nearly impossible to both perform a task and measure your progress at the same time.
Why Do We Agree?
Many requests are accepted not because we want to, but because we don't want to be perceived as impolite, arrogant, or useless. Frequently, you must contemplate saying no to someone with whom you will interact again in the future—a coworker, a spouse, relatives, or friends. It's very tough to say no to these folks since we care about them and want to help them. (Not to mention that we frequently require their assistance.) Collaborating with others is a necessary part of life. The prospect of straining the connection surpasses our time and energy investment. As a result, being generous in your reaction might be beneficial. Does whatever favors you can, and when you have to say no, be nice and direct. However, even after accounting for these social implications, many of us appear to struggle with handling the yes/no choice. We find ourselves over-committed to activities that don't help or help others around us in any significant way, and certainly don't better our own lives. One difficulty might be the way we think about the meaning of yes and no.
The Meaning of "Yes" and "No"
The words "yes" and "no" are used so frequently in relation to one another that they appear to have equal weight in discourse. In actuality, they are not only diametrically opposed in meaning, but also in terms of commitment. You are simply rejecting one choice when you say no. When you say yes, you're essentially saying no to all other possibilities. “Every time we say yes to a request, we are simultaneously saying no to whatever else we may do with the time,” as economist Tim Harford put it. Once you commit to anything, you have already selected how that future block of time will be spent. Saying no, in other words, saves you time in the long run. Saying yes now will cost you time later. No is a time credit option. You maintain the freedom to use your future time as you see fit. Time debt is a type of yes. At some time, you'll have to repay your debt. Just keep in mind! No is a choice. Yes with a level of responsibility.
The Importance of “No”
Saying no is sometimes regarded as a luxury available exclusively to people in positions of power. It's true that turning down chances is simpler when you have the security net of power, money, and authority. However, it's also true that saying no isn't only a luxury reserved for the wealthy. It is also a method that can assist you in achieving achievement. Saying no is a valuable skill to master at any point of your career because it allows you to keep your most valuable asset: your time. “If you don't defend your time, they will steal it from you,” said investor Pedro Sorrentino. You must say no to everything that does not help you achieve your objectives. Distractions must be avoided at all costs. “If you extend the notion of how you use no, it truly is the sole productivity tip (since you must eventually say no to every distraction in order to be productive),” one reader explained. Steve Jobs encapsulated this concept well when he remarked, "People assume focus implies saying yes to the thing you have to focus on." That, however, is not the case. It entails saying no to a slew of other excellent suggestions. You must choose wisely.” Say yes to any opportunity that could potentially move you in the right direction. You may have to try many things to discover what works and what you enjoy.
Your plan will need to vary over time as you develop and succeed. As your skills improve, you have to continually increase your threshold for saying yes. Upgrading your no doesn't mean you'll never say yes. It just means you default to saying no and only say yes when it really makes sense. "Saying no is so powerful because it preserves the opportunity to say yes."
What is the Best Way to Say No?
Most of us are likely to say yes too quickly and no too slowly. It's worth considering where you fall on the scale. If you find it difficult to say no, the following method offered by Tim Harford, the British economist I mentioned previously, may be useful. “One strategy is to ask yourself, “Would I agree to this if I had to do it today?” he writes. It's a good rule of thumb to follow, because every future obligation, no matter how far away, will ultimately become a pressing issue.” It's a yes if an opportunity excites you enough to leave whatever you're doing right now. If it isn't, you might want to reconsider.
This is akin to Derek Sivers' well-known "Hell Yeah or No" technique.
If someone asks you to do something and your immediate reaction is "Hell Yeah!" then you should go ahead and do it. Say no if it does not thrill you. It's hard to remember to ask yourself these questions every time you have to make a decision, but it's still a good habit to get into. Although saying no might be tough, it is frequently preferable to the alternative. “It's simpler to avoid obligations than it is to get out of obligations,” writes writer Mike Dariano. Saying no maintains you on the less difficult side of the spectrum.” In the same way that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure in health, the same is true in productivity. In other words, you must gradually improve your "no's." In the same way that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure in health, the same is true in productivity. In other words, you must gradually improve your "no's." If you upgrade your no, it doesn't imply you'll never say yes again. It simply implies that you default to saying no and only say yes when absolutely necessary. “Saying no is so powerful because it preserves the possibility to say yes,” says investor Brent Beshore. The general consensus seem to be that if you can learn to say no to bad distractions, you'll ultimately be able to say no to good chances.
Finally, more effort is wasted doing things that don't matter than is lost doing things inefficiently, according to the Power of No. If that's the case, elimination is a better skill to have than optimization. I'm reminded of Peter Drucker's famous comment, "There is nothing more worthless than doing efficiently what should not be done at all."