Saying NO can help you win; know how not to sound arrogant.

Do you find it difficult to say no?

Saying no can help you win, but sometimes it is difficult to say no to someone without sounding arrogant or insulting.

United SMEs has six tips to help you say ‘NO.’

1) Say Later instead of saying ‘No.’

You don’t have to go right to any if you’re just starting out.

It’s difficult to say no.

But what if I say it later? Much be less difficult.

Make any request your default response. “I will get back to you soon, give me few minutes.”

Pro tip: You shouldn’t rely on your laters indefinitely. Also, refrain from lying. When your laters are depleted, saying later will only make you appear untrustworthy in the long run.

2) Make a practice of saying no.

Unfortunately, you may not always be able to say no to someone via text or email when it is convenient for you.

These invitations or requests may occur unexpectedly and in person, necessitating a prompt response. It’s a good idea to practice your noes to prepare for these circumstances ahead of time.

If you’re worried about sounding robotic or unnatural, practice these phrases in front of a mirror.

Alternatively, if you can, enlist the help of a friend or family member to engage in some fun role-playing with you!

3) Don’t try to justify yourself.

Offering an excuse may be the courteous approach to denying a request, but it will put you in a difficult position.

People who are desperate to get you to say yes can—and will—find a way to say yes, no matter your explanation.

However, the approach does not necessitate using the whole fisherman’s tool kit to succeed. Instead, we want you to be more like a quick-witted spearfisher.

Here’s how to do it in three easy steps:

1. Thank them for their generosity.
2. Tell them you’re unable to agree.
3. Not attempt to explain yourself.

4) Provide an alternative.

If the person asking for something is someone you want to keep a positive connection with, you can mitigate the impact of your denial by suggesting an alternative.

The idea is to reach an agreement so that they don’t take offense when you say no and don’t feel bad about declining a request that would bring unnecessary stress to your life.

Win-win!

5) Use the word “no” in your body language.

Is your body telling you yes or no?

Your potential asker may get the message nonverbally if you communicate no with your body. If you don’t, your body will make it far more difficult for you to say no.

6) Slay the Dragon of Procrastination

Because you’re a procrastinator, saying no is likely difficult for you.

Or you get sidetracked by things that don’t help you achieve your real goal.

Why? Because if you can’t say no to others, you’re probably having trouble saying no to yourself.

The Procrastination Dragon, you see, is a terrifying monster that thrives on squandering time, and the only way to stop it is to fight it with your sword… NO is the name of the sword.