Attention Mngmt - Prioritizing Your Time
For successful Attention Management, you need to begin with prioritizing things. The next step is to acknowledge that there is an urgent need for you to move your positive energy in a productive direction. This helps you to maintain a balance and move forward towards your goal with better time management.
Being Assertive
Sometimes people will ask you to help them with some assignment that demands your immediate attention. However, it may not be linked with your own work. These requests may consume the time your work needs, and at the same time, they cannot be neglected. The best way of handling this situation is to learn the art of politely saying – “No”.
This can be done in the following ways −
Refusing to take up the assignment, followed by an honest explanation, like- “I am sorry I can’t help you, because I am not comfortable doing that”.
When you say “no” instead of making an excuse, it gives the listener a real and honest idea of your situation. It also lets the person know that you are not someone who he can take for granted. Of course, giving a proper reason helps greatly in not creating any bad feelings later. For example, “I can’t help you right now because I have another project that is due by tomorrow.”
When you say “no”, try and give an alternate solution to the listener, this will help them think of some different solution and also not make them think negatively of you. For example, “I can’t make it today, but we could schedule it in for tomorrow morning.”
Every time you say “no”, try to repeat the request in your own words. Like “I understand that you need the package by tomorrow, but I will not be able to do it for you.”
Another way of saying “no” is first to say “yes” and then give a proper reasoning for not being able to do it and then suggest them some alternative solution. Like “Yes, I would love to help you with your party, but I do not have time until tomorrow evening.”
Sometimes you might come across a really manipulative and aggressive person, who would employ pressure tactics on you to get you do what he wants. While dealing with such people, say “no” and just stick with it no matter what the person says. Be firm and repeat yourself to make the person clear. This is the best way to deal with aggressive or manipulative people and this method also helps you control your emotions. Like “I understand your situation, but I can’t help you.”
These are some methods to easily say no to people and continue with your work. But it’s important to distinguish between when you should help and when you have to say no. You cannot be self-centered all the time, if you don’t help others maybe they won’t help you, when you need them.
