How to Say NO!

Have you ever had to say “no” to an employee? If you’re in a leadership position, you probably have. And if you haven’t yet, you definitely will. So how do you effectively tell your employee “no”? Well, here’s what NOT to do:

Dr. Cox from Scrubs gives a whole bunch of different ways to say “no,” but he doesn’t actually tell JD why he is saying “no.”

As a manager or leader in your organization, you’ve had at least one request from an employee that is absolutely ridiculous. You do everything you can to keep your jaw from hitting the floor. You think to yourself, “There is NO WAY they are serious about this.” You’re trying not to laugh at how utterly insane this request is. You’re picturing this now, aren’t you?

There are plenty of times when an employee request or idea isn’t completely crazy, and you want to say “yes” but something is preventing you from doing that. Whether it’s time, money, available resources, or a big “nope” from your superiors, you might have this situation where you have to say “no.”

In either situation, you have to say “no.” So what are the best ways to say “no”?

1. Don’t look shocked. Breathe, relax your facial muscles…don’t have that jaw-on-the-floor look on your face. Because that will look like “you want WHAT?!” is written all over your face.
2. Be nice. Your employee had to muster up a bunch of courage to come to you with this request or idea for you to consider. It may be a terrible request or idea, but don’t be like Dr. Cox. Be respectful.
3. Ask more questions. Why did your employee come to you with this request? Is there a real problem that needs a solution? Are they looking for something else? What does this request or idea really mean?
4. Clarify. When you respond to the request or idea, give specific reasons why you are saying “no.” If your employees don’t understand why you are saying “no,” they may get confused, frustrated, angry, or disillusioned. This leads to disengagement and potential turnover.
5. Close the door. At the end of the conversation, make sure your employee knows you are firm in your answer and the discussion is over and buried.

Talk to Us!
How have you had to say “no” to your employees? What was they’re reaction? What are some of the strangest requests and ideas your employees have had?