Saying no is one of the hardest—but most essential—skills for leaders. How do you set boundaries without damaging relationships? Why do senior leaders struggle to decline requests, even when they know they should? In this episode, we explore the leadership traps that make it difficult to say no, the cost of overcommitting, and how to protect your time and energy while maintaining strong professional connections.
You’ll learn why saying no is a critical leadership skill, the risks of always saying yes, and practical strategies to decline requests with confidence. We’ll also discuss the toll that overcommitment takes on leaders, teams, and organizations, plus what not to say when setting boundaries. If you’ve ever found yourself regretting a yes you should’ve turned into a no, this episode is for you.
What You’ll Learn In Today’s Episode:
- Why saying no is a critical leadership skill.
- The risks of always saying yes and how it leads to burnout.
- Leadership traps that make it hard to set boundaries.
- How to prioritize effectively without damaging relationships.
- The impact of overcommitting on personal and professional responsibilities.
- How to say no with confidence and clarity.
- What not to say when turning down a request.
- The connection between leadership presence and setting boundaries.
- How to shift from overachieving to strategic decision-making.
- Practical ways to support your team by saying no wisely.
Ideas Worth Sharing:
“The cost of over-committing is taking its toll on us as a society. We are seeing burnout, a lack of strategic focus, and people not having time for their personal and professional responsibilities.” – Elisia Keown Share on X “Being overly apologetic can weaken your leadership presence.” – Elisia Keown Share on X “Saying no is a leadership skill.” – Elisia Keown Share on XResources In Today’s Episode:
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