How To Easily Say No When You Need To

A brilliant CFO client of mine told me last week that she loved The Power of No chapter of my first book Thoughtfully Ruthless because it reminded her how easy it was to apply the guidance in her whole life, not just her work life. It prompted me to give away the short version here today.

In my work and research, I have found that too many executives shy away from the word NO, even though it wields infinite power.

The first trick is to know what kind of no you want to say.

Ask yourself what you are trying to say?

• No not me.

• No not now.

Or

• No not ever.

That makes it easier.

Then you need a specific script, especially if no is not a regular part of your vocabulary. That’s where 30 shortcuts come in handy.

Back when gathering in real life was allowed, I was speaking to a group of executives at Google’s Headquarters a few years ago, and I asked them what was the greatest barrier to accelerating their growth and they said “We say yes far too often.” That can be typical for a company in high growth, when there are endless ideas for breakthrough technology, radical new ideas, or disruptive ideas for your customers. But that is the very precise time you have to know how to say no. I let the Google executives know that The Power of No chapter could help and I immediately lost my audience. No one was paying attention as they were all flipping through my book in front of them. “Page 64 is perfect!” one of them shouted, and they all flipped to it. “This is just what we need, the precise words to help us say no.”

You can download the Thirty Ways to Say No here for the full phrases of exactly what to say.

Then I suggested you try this: track how many things you say no to over the next five days and note how much time and energy you save, I’d love to hear!

Enjoy practicing saying NO right when you need to.

To your 2021 year of Rapid Growth!

Dedicated to growing your business,

Val

P.S. I hope you enjoyed this week's VAL-uable Insights, sign up here to get them in your inbox each Monday morning: http://valwrightconsulting.com/newsletter-sign-up/

The Best Message Your Team Needs To Hear From You Today

Is the first message your team hears from you this year intentional and meaningful?

Are you setting the right tone for how you want your team to hear from you today, the first business day of 2021 for so many people?

It’s not too late, you can still share your insights in your first team meeting of the year, send a short video this morning, or write a deliberate email.

Answer these Five Fives Flashback FlashForward questions and you will give your team the best message they need right now at the start of the year:

1. What have been FIVE of your proudest moments this past year?
   

2. What are FIVE things you are grateful for today?
   

3. What are FIVE exciting changes you are experiencing in your industry?
   

4. What are FIVE of your greatest hopes for 2021?
   

5. What are FIVE promises you will make to all of your team in 2021?
   

Here’s one of my favorite recaps of 2020, Creative Director of Jack Henry, Maya Dukes made a brilliant video that celebrates a year that forced Maya to be more empathetic, patient, resilient, and grateful.
...how many can relate to that sentiment? I know I can!

I’d love to see your Five Flashbacks/ FlashForward Insights - send them my way or tag me on your social channels if you are sharing them publicly.

To your 2021 year of Rapid Growth!

Dedicated to growing your business,

Val

P.S. I hope you enjoyed this week's VAL-uable Insights, sign up here to get them in your inbox each Monday morning: http://valwrightconsulting.com/newsletter-sign-up/

How To Easily Describe 2020 In One Word

What word springs to your mind when you think of 2020? It’s taken twitter by storm as everyone in the twitter universe tweeted their reaction to 2020 in one simple word.

What’s yours?

For me, it is gratitude.

Never have I felt more grateful for my own and my families health until 2020.

Never have I felt more grateful for being able to continue with my work all from behind a rectangle screen in the safety of my attic office until 2020.

Never have I felt more grateful or noticed the important role healthcare workers and essential workers play in our communities.

Never have I felt more grateful for my ability to use the power of my voice for those who do not have a voice.

Never have I felt more grateful that our basement flooded 365 days ago that meant we had to unexpectedly move house to a place that is far easier to have 5 people at home all working/at school as we move into month 9 of lockdown.

My favorite way to refocus myself in gratitude is to watch this video by Louis Schwartzberg, it’s six minutes of pure brilliance. It might spark for you what you have been most grateful for this year.

...and I’d love to hear your one word that describes 2020 for you.

Dedicated to growing your business,

Val

P.S. I hope you enjoyed this week's VAL-uable Insights, sign up here to get them in your inbox each Monday morning: http://valwrightconsulting.com/newsletter-sign-up/