Hope you've been having a great week! As part of our helpful tips content, here's a good one based on my customer discovery interviews!
A favorite of grandmothers everywhere, this is the classic “I love you, but no.” The idea is to give the recipient a few words to feel good about despite the rejection, like so:
Example: This sounds like a great opportunity, but I have to pass. Thank you for considering me!
Example: Your proposal is intriguing and I’m glad you brought it up, but it’s not a good fit for us.
That last phrase borrows from a longtime contributor to the venerable New Yorker, John McPhee, whose turndown of choice was as mild as it is brief: “Not for us.”
2. Offer an alternative. 🙋🏻♀️
While your answer might be no, in the interest of courtesy, occasionally you’ll want to help out the recipient in some other way—by suggesting another time or a different option, perhaps.
Telling people no is an essential part of life. While you don’t always have to offer the recipient a Plan B or an explanation, it’s often worth taking the time to express yourself kindly.
You got this! Keep up the good work!
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