Saying no nicely isn’t just about talking with your clients and stakeholders and rationalising the decision. It’s also a life and strategic choice.
This article from HBR focuses on the pursuit of “less”. It suggests something along the lines of What Got you here won’t get you there, and seeks inspiration from James Collins’ How the Mighty Fall.
Not just haphazardly saying no, but purposefully, deliberately, and strategically eliminating the non-essentials. Not just once a year as part of a planning meeting, but constantly reducing, focusing and simplifying.
Similarly this 78 second video from Dan Pink, interviewing Morten Hansen says that paying attention less, and “obsessing” more is the key to corporate success. And the first step is saying no to many things.
What do you need to simplify or say no to right now?
