I’ve been thinking lately about the power and importance of saying “NO” as a management and organizational effectiveness tool.
I recently watched a TED Talk by David Grady entitled How to save the world (of at least yourself) from bad meetings which supported my perspective.
When it comes to meetings, we live in a world that Grady says in plagued by MAS – Mindless Accept Syndrome. And it’s sucking the life out of our days. He recommends asking organizers about the goals for their meetings and then making conscious choices about attending.
Besides being a great time management tool for you, it also helps the organizers focus their intention, which is good for the company. And if you thoughtfully consider who can attend instead of you, it becomes a delegation/development opportunity.
So, as Grady recommends, it’s time to say NO MAS!
I also recommend that you consider NO MAS for work requests that are beyond your team’s scope and/or bandwidth. Ask why the work is needed. Make a choice to do it or not. And, if you say “NO,” clearly explain WHY and WHAT other options, if any, you recommend. Doing this allows you to sustain your own work momentum and, at same time, show respect and concern for the requester – and these are very powerful things for you and your organization.