Is it OK to say no at work?

How should we use our assertiveness at work and when is it necessary to say no to colleagues? According to the careers and personal development experts Sue Hatfield and Gil Hasson, the occasional refusal in a professional context can only increase an individual’s productivity: in their view, in fact, those who never turn down a request are more likely to perform less effectively.  Let’s find out why.

Hatfield and Hasson describe their theories in ‘How to be assertive in any situation’, a manual which explains the importance of letting others know clearly and directly what one does and does not wish to do. They maintain that this is the only way to achieve more, through a more effective management of professional and personal relationships. Clarity then, is a key factor in personal satisfaction.

Of course, it is not always easy to be assertive at work and in order to be successful in this, you must keep practising in different relationships. It is not necessary to be overbearing or arrogant, but you must overcome your fear of other people’s reactions, by making reasonable requests and showing your loyalty. However, this loyalty can only be expected if we have treated other people well: why should others make allowances for us if we don’t do the same for them?

In order to be able to say no to colleagues it is first of all essential to follow seven steps towards change. Through these it is possible to deal with criticism in a constructive way and react to rebukes without falling into the trap of becoming angry.  However, to succeed in this we need to consider bosses and colleagues as if they were strangers with whom we must find the right harmony. The aim, of course, is to build relationships based on trust, support and esteem.

From a practical point of view, the authors provide some examples to illustrate how to use assertiveness at work as part of your personal strategy. The concepts are simple: as well as criticising behaviour rather than the person, it is important to admit your own errors, while not rejecting criticism. By starting from this basic premise, it becomes easier to turn down requests and improve the quality of your performance.

This is Hatfield and Hasson’s advice: precious tips to put into practice in order to optimize your professional performance.

Translated by Joanne Beckwith