How to say ‘no’ to a project gracefully
Sometimes a potential partnership isn’t a fit with your schedule and other responsibilities. Here’s how to let people down gently and preserve relationships.
Even though many of us write for a living, we may find ourselves at a loss for words when it comes to saying “no” to a project or person. Turning someone down in the complicated and politically fraught world of work is no easy task.
Here are five templates you can use to say no to a project or offer politely and firmly.
1. Turning down a project because you have too much on your plate
Hi [name].
Thanks for including details about [project name]. For your reference, my priorities for this week are as follows:
Since I’m currently at capacity with these projects, I would like to table [new project] until [day] next week. This works best on my end so I can complete the above tasks without affecting the overall timeline.
Please let me know if I should prioritize the project you mentioned instead.
I appreciate the clarification.
2. Turning down a project that’s not right for you or not part of your job
Hi [name].
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