Recommended Reading - No: The Only Negotiating System You Need For Work And Home

When I saw the title of this book, I knew I had to read it. I long ago mastered the art of saying “no” to requests that I am either unable to fulfill or simply don’t want to take part in. I am very involved in running a small business, several professional organizations, and civic activities separate from my family responsibilities and obligations by choice.

I am often asked to take on additional projects beyond those that I have committed to, and when I don’t want to participate, I simply say “no.” Sometimes people keep asking, thinking that asking more than once or in a different manner will make me change my mind. However, each time, my response remains, “no.”

People often ask me how I avoid being coerced into taking on roles that I don’t want to fulfill. The question puzzles me, as the answer is simply to say “no” when a “no” is warranted. The next time I get this question I am going to refer the person who asks to read No: The Only Negotiating System You Need for Work and Home by experienced negotiating coach Jim Camp.

If you need a little help when it comes to being comfortable saying “no” when it is in your best interest to do so, the lessons presented in this book can change your life. This publication provides invaluable insight and advice for those who need help being comfortable saying “no” when it is appropriate to do so. Many people don’t realize that requests are not demands or requirements. Any time a question is asked, the answer can be either yes, maybe, or no.

This book reminds readers that many personal and professional interactions are in fact negotiations. The author encourages readers to remain focused on the mission and purpose of their interactions with other people. An important premise of this book is based on overcoming neediness. Many times we say yes out of a sense of neediness. However, the committee won’t collapse if we choose not to participate. We aren’t likely to be stuck forever with a house that we want to sell if we don’t give in to unrealistic demands.

When requests are posed to us, we have an opportunity to accept them or turn them down, and we also have the ability to choose not to make a decision. Requests are really negotiating challenges, and No: The Only Negotiating System You Need for Work and Home provides practical advice how to avoid wasted compromises, giveaways, and commitments that you will only resent by simply saying “no.” n