How to Say No | TIME
There’s a common malfunction that occurs when well-intentioned people open their mouths to say no: The word “yes” tumbles out instead.We’ve all been there, says Vanessa Bohns, department chair and professor of organizational behavior at Cornell University. No is a deceptively short, simple word that can trigger several layers of anxiety for the person trying to say it. For starters: What does it reveal about our character? “We worry that we’re essentially communicating that we’re not a helpful person; we’re not a nice, kind person; we’re not a team player,” Bohns says. “We’re too lazy to take something on, or we don’t want to work hard.”At the same time, she adds, we’re likely stressing over how that “no” might offend the other person, and what it conveys about our relationship with them. ...
