Client Catherine is about to retire and already knows she’ll be inundated with requests to join boards and do volunteer work. She wants to help out but also wants to know how to say “no” nicely. I suggested she say what I say when I can’t accept another commitment, “I’m sorry; I can’t. The time is already pledged.”
“The time is already pledged.”
She liked it. It is an effective and gracious way to answer a request. It’s easy to remember, simple to use, is exactly the image she wishes to project.
It can be a script
The script helps you manage your time and energy level whether your time is actually already pledged or not. But it’s nice to know that the time IS already pledged, either to volunteer and help someone else, or to spend the time with your family or yourself, and that you pledged it after a thorough and fearless examination of what’s important to you.
Can you hear yourself using this tip? Please let me know.
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