How do you say what you want? How do you say No?

This is a living collection of resources that I use with my coaching clients and leadership development workshop participants. This list is targeted at tactics and strategies for how to say No; in terms of assertiveness, self-confidence, conflict, the employee-manager relationship, the customer-supplier relationship, trust building, specific communication tips and others.

Please contact me here if you would like to discuss how you may go further in this topic through Coaching or have an intact team or group of colleagues develop related capabilities in a workshop.

Please use the comments section at the foot of the page to suggest resources you have found useful on this topic and I'll add them for the benefit of others.

Tone is the hardest part of saying no. Jonathan Price

People Skills: How to Assert Yourself, Listen to Others, and Resolve Conflicts

When I Say No, I Feel Guilty

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

The Assertiveness Workbook: How to Express Your Ideas and Stand Up for Yourself at Work and in Relationships

The Art of Everyday Assertiveness: Speak Up. Say No. Set Boundaries. Take Back Control.

Hell Yeah or No

Beyond “Agree to Disagree”: Why Leaders Need to Foster a Culture of Productive Disagreement and Debate

Getting to no

Not all work tasks are created equal. Here’s how to put a stop to dead-end work

How to Say No With Confidence

How To Nicely Say 'No' (With 50 Examples)

Requesting a Deadline Extension at Work: Tips and Examples

How To Say 'No' To Your Boss (With Examples and Tips)

Kicking yourself for not saying something at a meeting? Here’s how to speak up skillfully  

How to speak up and say what needs to be said: Ask yourself the "5Ws"

Assertiveness is a virtue that anyone can develop with practice

5 ways organizations can encourage employees to fight back against toxic leadership

9 Ways to Say No to Busywork and Unrealistic Deadlines

 A Simple Way to Be More Assertive (Without Being Pushy)

The One Skill All Leaders Should Work On

The Power of Saying No

Stop Flailing and Start Delivering: Here’s how to gain clarity and focus when your tendency is to over-commit.

Learning to Say “No” Is Part of Success

How to Say No to Taking on More Work

How to Tell Your Boss You Have Too Much Work

How to Say No to Things You Want to Do

This Year, Say Yes to Saying No

The Strategic Power of Saying No

How a Culture of Silence Eats Away at Your Company

Nine Practices to Help You Say No

Eight Ways to Say No With Grace and Style

Say No Without Burning Bridges

How I Learned to Say No

Telling the Boss 'No'

TEDx - Saying 'No'

TEDx - Say No To Say Yes

TED - Dare to disagree

The Art of Saying No: Kenny Nguyen at TEDxLSU

"Focusing is about saying no" - Steve Jobs

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The oldest, shortest words - 'yes' and 'no' - are those which require the most thought. Pythagoras