3 Ways To Say No to Your Boss And Keep Your Job

Having to face your boss and say “no” to his latest request is certainly not the easiest thing in the world. You might have to give an unwelcome answer, perhaps because he’s clearly using the wrong marketing strategy, or because you can’t complete a sale. There are some things at work that need to be resolved, and the only way to do this is by saying “no”.

But how can you do this in a tactful way? How can you handle this problem? It’s not easy to say “no” to your boss without creating a bad impression or causing misunderstandings. Here are three techniques to help you with this task.

How To Say No To Your Boss And Keep Your Job

• Plan in advance: the saying “think before speaking” has never been truer. Your boss has probably told you beforehand that he wants to speak to you, and unless you’ve been away from work, you’ll be able to guess what he’s going to ask you. So you can plan in advance, and when you face your boss you won’t need to respond to his request with an abrupt “no”. Try to explain how many things you’re already doing, and that this extra task would have a bad effect on your work and so damage the company.
• Speak to him privately: another way to ensure you don’t make a bad impression, and your boss doesn’t lose face, is to choose an appropriate time and place for your talk. It’s always better to be alone with him, so that you can talk in a calm, relaxed way without the presence of colleagues or other superiors.
• Pay him some compliments: if you offer your excuses in a humble way and also pay your boss some compliments (though don’t overdo it), he’ll certainly be more prepared to accept your refusal without taking offence or feeling a loss of face.