Free Webcast: How to Say "NO" at Work!

Remember all those 80's sitcoms that drilled that "No means no" message into our skulls?  By simply uttering the two-letter word we were supposed to circumvent danger.  Now while we might not be experiencing rape, violence and drugs at work (unless of course you work for a major media company), the word "no" can still be a valuable tool.  We can say it in our minds over and over again, but when push comes to shove, many of us chicken out.

Saying "no" at work might seem like a career killer.  But fear not you cube dweller, there's hope ahead!  The American Management Association is offering a FREE one-hour Webinar that will help you tell your boss to buzz off - all while keeping your job!

Learning to say “no” effectively and at the appropriate times, is a critical skill that can move your career forward and build your professional credibility.  Covered topics will include:

- 20 different ways to say "no"
- 5 steps to assert yourself and mean what you say
- Proven ways to say "no"—with and without the word "no"
- Saving face and saying "no" after you said "yes" to a boss' request

You can register here or call 800/262-9699 to sign up.  Let them know that Jobacle.com tipped you off.  The Webcast is free, but reservations are required. It's taking place on Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 12pm ET.   Remember: Just Say No!

Comments

[Duane]

During the late nineties I got to play alpha geek at a big financial company. I played the role to the hilt, wandering around the building in my socks carrying a Nerf gun, knowing full well that I was prized for my wisdom on all things technical. I got to go to every meeting, by special invitation. I also was young and stupid and always on the lookout for a technical challenge. I simply couldn't stand to say No to any request, because it translated in my head as "No, I can't" and I wasn't about to say I couldn't do anything.

One day before a meeting with a new customer, I was called in for preparation by the Director of IT, and the software manager. They told me in no uncertain terms, "You are only allowed to say 'No.' we're going to get you a little Wile E Coyote sign like in the cartoons, just one word, No, you hold it up when somebody asks you a question."

So we went to the meeting, and I sat patiently listening to the customer explain what they needed. Eventually their rep looked right at me and said, I remember it to this day, "Do you think that anything that we said is going to pose any sort of a problem?" I looked at my boss, looked at the rep, looked back at the boss, looked at the rep again and said, "No."

:)