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Saying No is the biggest challenge all of us face whether at the workplace or at home. Here's how you can become better at saying no!
Saying ‘No’ is the biggest challenge all of us face whether at the workplace or at home. Here’s how you can become better at saying no, while maintaining relationships.
If you are a career woman, the chances are you are either highly overworked at both home and office or guilt ridden for always missing that meeting or worrying about all the home chores you left behind.
How that ‘No’ is communicated makes a world of difference. At the workplace, the context and the tone and tenor is an important subtext. The following tips may come in handy in a tricky situation at your workplace.
Don’t natter: When communicating on your decision, its important to stay on topic. Don’t wander away from the subject at hand nor elapse into a nervy ramble. Have the discussion (which might be lengthy) but be clear and honest about your reasons. For it to be well received, make sure you prepare in advance of that conversation, your motivations as well as the reasons as to your ‘No’. Avoid making that either a firm ‘No’ or a timid ‘No’ but just something delivered in an even tenor.
Delivery: It is also extremely important that you leave no room for doubt in the minds of the recipient as to your decision. Don’t leave the impression that you might just be convinced with the right words nor that you are a stubborn person who brooks no argument. While its important to communicate well as to the background and the context, it’s not necessary that you need to address every tiny point against that’s raised by your recipient. Be clear, be upright and more importantly, be convinced yourself as to your reasons and your decision.
Finally, while it might be extremely difficult for have such conversations with your boss or senior colleagues, most people in general appreciate candour in a thoughtful conversation/discussion if communicated in the right way. Make sure though that you make these decisions after careful consideration and communicate them without burning bridges or ruining work relationships.
The key is to practice these conversations, rehearse and re-rehearse before delivery.
First published at author’s blog.
Top image via Pixabay
Author of Maya & the Mind Mystics novella. Word Sculptor. Wodehouse fan. Bibliophile. Chartered Accountant. An ardent believer of the reality of multiverses. read more...
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People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
In some cases, women do not feel the need to make any decisions. They are taught to obey the patriarchal system, which makes them believe that they are right. In my family, I was never taught to make decisions on my own. It was always my parents who bought dresses and all that I needed.
14 years after her last feature film Dhobi Ghat, storyteller extraordinaire comes up with her new film, Laapataa Ladies, a must watch.
*Some spoilers alert*
Every religion around the world dictates terms to women. The onus is always on women to be ‘modest’ and cover their faces and bodies so men can’t be “tempted”, rather than on men to keep their eyes where they belong and behave like civilized beings. So much so that even rape has been excused on the grounds of women eating chowmein or ‘men will be men’. I think the best Hindi movie retort to this unwanted advice on ‘akeli ladki khuli tijori ki tarah hoti hai’ (an alone woman is like an open jewellery box) came from Geet in Jab We Met – Kya aap gyan dene ke paise lete hain kyonki chillar nahin hain mere paas.
The premise of Laapataa Ladies is beautifully simple – two brides clad in the ghunghat that covers their identity get mixed up on a train. Within this Russian Doll, you get a comedy of errors, a story of getting lost, a commentary on patriarchy’s attitude towards women, a mystery, and a tale of finding oneself, all in one. Done with a mostly light touch that has you laughing and nodding along.
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