In today’s competitive, 24/7/365 business world, saying “yes” to opportunities, meetings, collaborations, partnerships and just about anything else is the norm, not the exception. In the early days of our careers, many of us were told to capitalize on opportunities, that collaboration leads to growth, that being agreeable builds relationships and that saying “yes” was expected. Essentially, the word “no” and the mere idea of walking away from anything offered were not possibilities.
But with age and experience comes wisdom. Today, many experienced leaders have realized that using the word “no” is a strength, not a weakness. By integrating “no” into your vocabulary, you are not shutting down opportunities, but rather choosing the ones that make sense.