How To Say No To Too Many Tasks At Work While Still Being Professional

We've all encountered these two extreme personalities at work: the negative Nancy who throws water on every initiative, and the team cheerleader who goes the extra mile for their colleagues. Make no mistake, being willing to go beyond your call of duty to help others does make you a valuable asset to any team. However, there's a fine line between being helpful and being a people-pleaser.

Saying "yes" to everything at work is as unhealthy as saying no all the time. As James Clear, New York Times best-selling author of "Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones," said on Twitter: "No is a decision. Yes is a responsibility." Agreeing to take on every task given to you and every request asked of you, either for the sake of pleasing people or to make yourself look professional, is opening the door to many stressful days ahead.

Spreading yourself too thin can make it so that you are unable to perform any task efficiently. You may miss deadlines, not be able to stick to a schedule, and ultimately end up disappointing people (via Think Marketing Magazine). If you want to succeed in your career while avoiding burnout, you will eventually need to develop the ability to say no. Here's how to decline gently without being rude or unprofessional.

No matter how busy you are, evaluate all the aspects of the request before you react, according to Karen Dillon, coauthor of "How Will You Measure Your Life" (via Fellow). Before deciding on your response, Dillon says it's okay to ask for more context, such as the urgency of the matter, what's in it for you, and why it's you who's being given the task and not someone else. At the same time, look at what's already on your to-do list. If your plate is already full, you can gently say that you can't take on more at that time.

One of the easiest ways to know whether you have the bandwidth for something is to regularly prioritize your tasks (via Indeed). This will help you manage your time more efficiently and set appropriate boundaries. People can't call you unprofessional when you have a valid reason for saying no, such as having to focus on a higher-priority task.

Keep in mind, though, that while saying no is always an option, always consider whether it is for the best. If you get the sense that the request offers you an opportunity to take initiative or prove your leadership skills, consider making room for it. It could be what earns you a promotion, according to Monster.

According to Forbes, if you feel a request is worth taking on but you can't manage the scope of it as presented, consider offering an alternative solution, like a different time frame that's convenient for you or sharing how you are able to lend a hand in a smaller way. 

Where you really have to draw the line is when you feel you are being taken advantage of. This is the hard part, but it's imperative to be assertive when setting boundaries (via Inc.). And according to The Balance Careers, there are legitimate reasons for turning down work, including not having the required skills, not being able to meet the deadline due to other tasks, and having to neglect other work if you take something else on.

It's difficult to say no to people, whether they are your coworkers or not. While looking out for others is admirable, you should know when to prioritize your own physical and mental wellbeing. Exercise compassion for yourself and keep in mind that you don't have to be at everyone's beck and call in the workplace. Your professional image is demonstrated enough through your productivity, resilience, and integrity.