Tweet

3 Reasons "NO" is Best

Written by: Sylvia Lafair

Article Overview: The best communication is clear, concise and gets companies to the winner circle fast

3 Reasons "NO" is Best

How to run a business successfully rests on your ability to separate the wheat from the chaff. Now, most of us don't have a clue about pulling wheat apart, however, we all have an idea of what is and is not good communication. So, here is the skinny on what is important: it is separating the what, the when, and the how of communication.

The art of communication involves both active listening in business as well as the ability to tell the truth appropriately. And learning about the impact of the simple word "NO" we all loved by the time we were in the terrible twos as toddlers is key to success.

1.Show you are the boss: just like a good parent it is important to take a stand with your employees. The skills of a manager or leader include being "gravity" for your company. That means there are times that discussion is a waste of time and a "no" said with strong conviction will help people move onto the action of implementing the business program that needs to be completed.

2.Stop the office politics: Often employees want you to play favorites. It is a natural tendency left over from family dynamics. If you begin to show even the slightest interest in the gossip you will become part of the whispering down the lane game. Here is a tip. Just say "No" that you do not want to here the newest and latest tid-bit. Yet, if it keeps coming back through more than three people get HR or if you don't have an HR department, get a trusted manager to sniff out the problem. You need to stay above the fray.

3.Be the change you want to see: When you set the example by short sentences or a one word answer, people get clear about why they came to you and you save precious time. Most of us want to heard and understood and will spend our time explaining and defending our position. This gives lots of room to wedge in another point of view that can just muddy the waters. Often a direct and firm "No" is a great example of a business plan being kept on track. You become a model of efficiency.

So, please remember "No" is a complete sentence! It is a communication tool that can save time. It can save lots of upset and misunderstanding, as in "but you never said no". It can be a pattern buster that will get your employees talking in short and appropriate ways.

Pleasers, martyrs, and super achievers, are among the personality types that have a hard time saying no. See what your pattern is by taking the pattern aware quiz at my website or reading "Don't Bring It to Work" for more clarity and tips to becoming a clearer communicator.

Related Articles
  Reasons to Succeed
  More on Compelling Reasons
  How To Discover What Truly Drives Salespeople
  Prospects Are Like Children
  What to Do When Your Prospect Goes into Hiding

Article Tags: pattern buster, stop office politics



Related Forum Posts
Re: 10 Reasons Who Startups Fail & Book Recommendations - Great post,but please edit the headline. I presume it is "10 Reasons Why Startups Fail & Book Recommendation
Tactics for Blog Traffic - Blogging; if you know how to do it right, can be a great experience. Unfortunately the majority of people getting online to begin blogging fall into the common frustration of seeing low traffic numbers when they check their stats. Why is this the case? Ultimately it is because getting traffic to a blog is a science, like many other strategies implemented in marketing products and services. There are four ways that can help in achieving more traffic at a quicker rate. Two of the ways to produce an abundant traffic stream consists of writing and promoting your subject and/or niche in other sites, and another strategy to reeling in this traffic is a traditional business tactic in attaining a base of customers; or in regards to blogs, followers. 1.) Write Captivating Articles - Article marketing is one of the best ways to attain traffic as it is almost always free and can allow a marketer to express their interests in any desired niche. If you submit articles to directories you are not only getting a steady stream of readers, but you are also building backlinks to your blog site. An example is EzineArticles.com, as it is has its own readership of people looking for topics that you may just be blogging about. Therefore, if you write an article and submit it to a directory a person will not only read your article but also be enticed to visit your blog. 2.) Reasons to Re-Visit- Giving people a reason to go back is seen all throughout commercial businesses. For example, stores and restaurants will hold special sales, events, and offers to keep customers coming back for more of what they love; but this time with a lower price or ???buy one get one free??? offer. This exact formula can also be replicated in your blogging techniques. The idea to keep people coming back over and over can be lucrative and the best way to do this is to create special events and offers. For example, you can give away a new prize each week to new subscribers to your list. In addition, you can also run contests for people who leave comments on your blog posts. In short, making your blog ???a place to be??? will attract more people as your subscribers may even tell their friends. 3.) Doing Keyword Research- Rather than throwing up blogs and expecting traffic it would be wiser to research the keyword data to find terms that are getting a lot of searches. In addition, attaining keywords that have low competition would be a greater choice as it will make your blog easier to rank. 4.) Link Baiting- The idea behind creating link baits is stirring enough controversy through your post that you can produce strong emotional reactions by people in order for them to comment and link to your blog post. For example, if a hot new electronic product; like the iPad, just recently came out on the market and everyone is raving about it, you can explain why you don???t like it to your readers in a way that will give you strong emotional responses automatically. In short, these are four ways that can be solid; if used appropriately, in bringing in more traffic and attaining a base of avid readers.
Ladies Who Launch Nov 1 event in Washington DC - Top 10 Reasons to Pre-Register for WASHINGTON, DC LIVE EVENT on November 1st! A Thursday in the fall: What could be better than an investment in yourself? Leave your briefcases and at home. Take one day to focus on YOURSELF. You may ask, is Ladies Who Launch LIVE for me? For those of you who tinker all day in a cubicle, may we honor you with a day to explore your feminine entrepreneurial and creative potential? For those of you who have launched a business, might a day of connecting with like-minded women be just what you need? And for those of you with wanderlust contemplating just when-oh-when you will ever get off your derriere and start that creative project you've been dreaming about - sit no more and join us - the dynamic group of fun, fabulous women at Ladies Who Launch LIVE who will share their stories on how they dumped their day job or launched on the side, harnessed their ingenious ideas, created a business, idea, or creative project....to live the life they imagined. Married, single, mother, or free-wheeling girl about town, this day is all about YOU. Join us on November 1st, and see where it takes you. Click here to view the invitation and register. Here are the TOP TEN reasons why you should pre-register for The Ladies Who Launch LIVE event: 10. You are guaranteed our cool, chic gift bag with special surprises with the price of admission. Only guaranteed to first 300 pre-registration!! 9. You will be part of the welcome package that will be emailed out before the event...you can promote your business, creative idea and even offer a special discount or free consultation to generate buzz. 8. You'll get in...we have limited space and are filling up quickly. 7. You'll save $ 40...enough for lunch and drinks with a new friend that you meet at the event. 6. It is going to be at the unique Cold War Gallery - Building #70, Navy Museum, Washington Navy Yard, FREE shuttle service from two metro stations: Navy Yard (Green line) and Eastern Market (Blue and Orange line). Visitors entrance: M and 6th St. SE 5. We are serving light breakfast and lunch. 4. You will receive a free posting on Launch Pad, the Ladies Who Launch classified listings ($30 value) that is distributed to over 40,000 women. What a great way to get your product or service out there! 3. You will be eligible to be selected as a Featured Lady story on the free weekly Ladies Who Launch newsletter that is sure to gain you national exposure. 2. Our speakers will inspire, motivate and entertain you. Speakers include Kathleen Matthews: Executive Vice President Global Communications and Public Affairs, Marriott International, Inc. and former award-winning producer, reporter and news anchor who covered news in Washington, DC for 25 years, Mei Xu: Founder and creator of CHESAPEAKE BAY CANDLE and Blissliving Home, Julie Lenzer Kirk: President of Path Forward International and author of The ParentPreneur Edge: What Parenting Teaches About Building a Successful Business, Jennifer Buddin: Co-founder of "The Little Black Book for every busy woman", Victoria Colligan: Founder of Ladies Who Launch, Frances Crespo and Nicolette Pizzitola: Ladies Who Launch Washington, DC Leaders. 1. Because it is an investment in yourself...and tax-deductible.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Adapting to Technology and the Internet

Too Many Sales Reps Are Wimps

Work Life Balance: Adding White Space

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.