This is an important life skill in the sense that we need to know how to set boundaries across many facets of our lives (to needy friends, to dates you simply don't want to go on, to trips we cannot afford or maybe simply don't want to take) but this post will focus on saying no in a professional situation, specifically saying no to a new professional opportunity.
Now there are many different ways for a new opportunity to present itself. I won't even to attempt to exhaust this list since I'm sure it's impossible. But I do offer thoughts on a few that I've either personally been faced with or know others who have (again, I'm not going to tell you!) and thoughts on why and how people have said no, as well as how to make this assessment.
Of course there are instances when you want to and should say yes (you could determine a lot of these by the below list as well!) And of course there are instances when you don't have the luxury to say no. There are also times when your no might be to a request rather than to an opportunity. These topics are all begging for future posts (spoiler!) but for now we'll focus on some ways to assess whether a no is right for a situation and how to deliver it.
Saying No to a New Professional Opportunity: Been There, Done That
Timing
Like my old friends they say, timing is everything. And sometimes the timing is just off. Maybe you or your spouse are planning to have a child, you're buying a house and this will complicate things, you just took a new role and you want to stick it out for at least a year.
No answer is wrong, if the timing just doesn't seem to fit don't force it. Maybe this opportunity will come back, maybe it won't; if it doesn't something else -- maybe better and better timed -- will come along.
Does it make sense?
In a similar way it needs to make sense to you. At the end of the day the choice is yours and only you know if it makes sense for you. This might be the "perfect" move for your career based on what your manager, mentor, executive, mother, former coworker, peer who envies you, peer who admires you thinks. At the end of the day you know what your end goals are (personal and professional, short-term, long-term, and super long-term).
I have a friend, we'll call him Andrew, who decided not take an opportunity within a team he was on. This was really confusing to one of his peers. His peer would speak openly about the opportunity Andrew missed. Thing is just a few years later Andrew made a different jump that was even more beneficial. This jump that Andrew ended up making paid off even more, was aligned with what he wanted longer term, and the extra time Andrew spent in his initial role helped him make the move. Booyah. Yup, I just said booyah.
Business Health
Be sure any opportunity is aligned with where the business is going or will yield benefit to the company you're at or considering. If it doesn't or it feels too risky say no. How do you measure this? Read. Talk with coworkers or industry experts. Don't have any idea where to start or access to an expert? Google is your friend, my friend. Start with a broad search then use what you do know to hone in on trends or industry experts. Then search for key people or businesses on twitter and read their feeds or blogs.
Sure it's great to get in on something when it's being built up but consider its scalability and likelihood of success. Unless you're living off an inheritance you need to keep at least some Ramen on the table. Say no when it seems off.
Organization Dynamics
Biz health is very real, but so is organizational health. This can mean company, department, team, whatever. Whether you're considering staying on a team, joining a new company, working for a certain manager, don't discount dynamics. Hear that one manager doesn't give credit? A peer gossips or throws people under the bus? Perhaps there's been a lot of instability in one department. Again, if it seems off this might be your sign to say no.
Gut Feeling
You can tap every resource you have, read every blog (yay!), follow every industry expert on twitter, and ask your most business savvy uncle with an Ivy League degree, but at the end of the day the choice is yours. So how do you know? Trust your gut.
How to Say No
You're not turning down Johnny for a date, but be just as tactful. Why does this matter? Well I'm personally a big believer in always presenting yourself in the best light and never burning bridges, so being thoughtful and having tact is key.
Final Thoughts and No, Don't Keep Reading if You Don't Want To :)
Sometimes you want a change, sometimes you don't. You know you best. Only accept what makes sense, works for, and feels good and right to you.
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