What do I say when I can’t take on one more thing?
Three ways to turn down a request at work, from a clear no to a trade, in words you can use today.
- When to use
- When someone has asked for something you can’t take on and you’re about to say yes anyway.
- Time
- 5 min
The prompt
I’ve been asked by to . I don’t want to take it on because . Give me three replies I could send or say, each under 60 words: a clear no, a no with an alternative, and a yes with a condition that makes it workable. Keep them warm and plain, with no long apology. Not like this: ‘I’d love to, but things are a bit crazy right now, sorry.’ Use only what I’ve told you: no invented excuse, and no alternative that depends on something you don’t know. Then tell me which one you’d pick, what each one costs me, and what to say if they ask a second time. If my reason sounds weaker than I think it is, say so.
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