4 Easy Steps To Say “No” at Work and Set Boundaries

Being the DIY-do-it-all-chronic-overachievers that we are, we want to crush any commitment we make, especially at work. But if your current commitments (including the one you’ve made to yourself) will suffer from taking on more commitments, then instead of crushing anything, you’re gonna get crushed.

I get it: As you move up in your career, you don’t always have a say in what comes your way. But you do have a say in how you manage your own bandwidth and other people’s expectations (even your boss’s!). Too much stress and not enough time isn’t a good combination for anyone.



1. Be gracious for the opportunity



2. Offer a partial solution to meet your boss’s needs



3. Negotiate an achievable deadline


Your boss: “Yes, that works.”

4. Keep the door open for future opportunities



By presenting actual examples of what else you have cooking, like Projects A and B you aren’t coming off as defensive, but demonstrating the many other ways you are contributing to the good of the team. When possible, refer the asker to a helpful resource or provide additional information to help move their project along—and solidify your status as a total team player. And offer an actual deadline for your contribution, which makes it more genuine. Of course, your boss has the right to refuse your amended deadline, but you won’t get the extension unless you ask.

Set boundaries to stop stress

If you don’t set boundaries around your domain, which includes your time, your energy, and even your feelings, people can and will take advantage of you. As many of the greatest female leaders out there will tell you, sometimes breaking that glass ceiling requires putting up some scaffolding first.

Sometimes breaking that glass ceiling requires putting up some scaffolding first. Click To Tweet

A version of this article was originally published on Entrepreneur.

