Formostofus,saying“no”isverydifficult.Wedon’twanttooffendordisappointpeople.Asaresult,wehavetospendtoomuchofourtimeandenergyondoingthings,whichseriouslyinterferesourwork.Butitrequiresagreattimeandenergyforustopursueourgoal.Infact,notonlydowehavetodevotemostofourtimebutalsoourheartandsoul.Therefore,evenifarequestislegitimateandimportant,sometimeswejusthavetosay“no”inordertopreventtoogreatatollonourtime.Anditispossibletodeclinearequestinwaysthatdonotseemrudeorunkind.Herearesomenicewaystosay“no”.Youmaypayacomplimentasyousay“no”.Takeauniversityprofessor,Delores,forexample,whensomeonecallsaskinghimtoserveontheirboard,andheknowsthathejustcan’tdoit.Heoftensay,“I’msogladyouthoughtofme.Iamabigfanofyourorgnization,butmyschedulejustwon’tallowmetoacceptyourinvitation.”Youmayalsodeclineinapositiveway.Forexample,“That’sagoodproduct,butit’snotsomethingwecanuseatthistime,”isagentlewaytosay“no”.Buyyourselfsometime.Seldomdoyouhavetogiveayesornoansweronthespot.Evenifyoufeelstronglythatyouranswerwillbeno.Buyyourselfsometimebysaying“Letmethinkaboutit”,“Letmetalkitoverwithmyfamily”andsoon.