Saying no at work feels risky, so most of us say yes and pay for it later. Michael and Nicole Davis cover how to say no, and how to hear it, by asking which task to drop so a new one fits, along with the Sunday scaries, managing up and fitting real breaks into a desk-bound day. These tips aren't a replacement for mental health care.
00:00 What this episode covers
04:36 What the Sunday scaries feel like
09:34 Name the worst case, then deal with it
11:37 Plan Friday, check your calendar Sunday
12:32 Leaders: wrap up Friday, start Monday later
15:04 Managing up and difficult coworkers
23:06 The one-over-N rule for meetings
29:42 Sneaking movement into your workday
35:05 Afternoon slumps and stretch breaks in meetings
41:27 What to do when you hear no
45:53 Why people-pleasers overcommit
50:35 How to say no and offer a later yes
Count one week of your team's manual work: mythoughtpartner.com/walk
Episode 4 of My Thought Partner (2023), with Michael David Davis and Nicole Davis.
