How to say NO!
Do you have trouble saying “no”? Lots of people do—and it can sometimes get you into trouble.
In spite of many best-selling books on assertiveness, like Manuel J. Smith’s classic book, “When I Say No I Feel Guilty,” many people still have trouble saying no. For example, you may have led someone on in a romantic relationship because you were afraid of saying no and breaking the other person’s heart. Or, you feel burned out, because you’re always giving, giving, giving because you can’t—or won’t—say no. Or, you may end up hopelessly over committed at work, putting in long hours and feeling secretly used and resentful, because you don’t know how to say no.
Sound familiar?
In this Podcast, Fabrice and David interview Dr. Jill Levitt, the Director of Clinical Training at the Feeling Good Institute in Mt. View, California. Jill confesses that she sometimes has trouble saying no—to new referrals when her practice is full, to her family, who she loves tremendously, as well as colleagues who request this or that. David admits he sometimes has similar problems.
There are lots of reasons why you may have trouble saying no. Some are negative, but some are actually positive, including:
- Conflict phobia. You are afraid that if you say no, the other person will get angry and annoyed with you.
- Fear of disapproval or rejection. You are afraid that if you say no, the other person will judge you, disapprove of you, or reject you.
- Perceived narcissism. You believe that other people will lash out if you don’t give in to their demands.
- Submissiveness. You believe that your role in relationships is to make others happy, even at the expense of your own needs and feelings.
- Joy / Love. Jill confesses that she often says yes to this or that request because she feels it will be fun, or because she doesn’t want to let the other person down. One example would be baking brownies for her sons when she’s exhausted. One consequences would be giving in, but resenting the person she’s saying yes to.
- Guilt. You may feel that if you say no, it means that you are somehow “bad,” and that it’s your duty to please other people.
- Achievement addiction. You say yes to almost everything because you think this or that activity will make you more productive and successful.
Fabrice, Jill and David discuss many strategies for overcoming this problem, including:
- Empathy–as a therapist, you always want to start with empathy, without trying to “help.”
- Motivational strategies such as the Paradoxical Cost-Benefit Analysis, Positive Reframing, or even the Straightforward Cost-Benefit Analysis. This is crucial to find out if patients really want to change before using methods to help them become more assertive.
- Punting. This is a delay strategy that David uses to get himself off the hook when feeling ambivalent about a request. For example, you can say, “I’m really pleased and honored that you’ve invited me to do X. I’m going to check with my schedule and see what might be possible, and I’ll get back to you.” Then, he has a day or two to work up the courage to say “no” in a kindly way.
- Write down your Negative Thoughts. when you’re feeling compelled to say yes because you’re feeling anxious or guilty, Ask yourself, “What am I telling myself?” Those thoughts will nearly always be distorted. Then ask yourself how you could challenge and talk back to those thoughts.
- Fabrice, Jill and David also discuss how to say no effectively and demonstrate this skill in a role-play with Jill that is surprisingly challenging!
They also demonstrate the Feared Fantasy, a powerful technique to help patients say no, using Jill’s example. Her worst fear is that if she says no to colleagues, they will:
- Feel disappointed.
- Become angry and demanding.
- Will say they won’t work with her in the future if she says no.
- Will say they’ll get someone else to do whatever it is, and that Jill will miss out on all the fun.
David and Fabrice play the role of colleagues from hell who put demands on Jill to do another podcast and then get upset when she tries to say no. The dialogue is quite entertaining and dynamic, and Jill finds it helpful, though anxiety-provoking.
They also describe the importance of giving patients homework to actually say no between sessions to requests that are excessive or inappropriate.
Dr. Fabrice Nye currently practices in Redwood City, California and treats individuals throughout the world (but not across U.S. state lines) via teletherapy. You can reach him at fabrice@life.net. You can reach Dr. Burns at david@feelinggood.com. If you like our jingle music and would like to support the composer Brett Van Donsel, you may download it here.
I will use these tools when dealing with telemarketers.
During the feared fantasy exercise, when David and Fabrice were being obnoxious, I think another tool available to Jill was “Punting.” David and Fabrice were acting angry. Perhaps Jill could have said, maybe we can talk about this later, and hopefully the antagonists would have been less emotional.
Yes, punting is a good strategy, in the NFL and in life! No reason to put oneself on the spot all the time, letting others pull your strings! david
Dear Dr. Burns,
what are some techniques you could use for clients who have battled their self-defeating beliefs and distorted thoughts and overcame their depression or anxiety, but still don’t feel happy. An absence of depression or anxiety does not necessarly mean joy in life. How can you help people find out where they want to go in life, who they want to be, what it is that brings them happiness?
Thanks a lot for answering my question!
Thanks, great question. Here is the short answer, and in reality I would empathize first and find out about the person and what may still be bugging him or her. Then I would ask that person to focus on one specific moment when s/he was not feeling happy, and fill out a Daily Mood Log. This would give me lots of information about what the problem is, if it is interpersonal, or an individual mood problem, or whatever was hanging the person up at that moment, and then create a treatment plan based on that information. The treatment would not be formulaic, as in “how to become happy,” but rather individualized. So I would need more information. I love this type of problem, by the way. Thanks, Haike! David
Great podcast. I would think that it would be better to teach the patient to be true to himself, rather than following a specific set of techniques. In some situations by saying, no, you may, in fact, be passing up opportunities. Teaching the patient/client to evaluate and live by his/her own rules would be even more helpful than just teaching client to say no. Fabrice touched on this towards the end. Thanks for the entertaining podcasts.
Good thinking! thanks Existential Stoic! What’s your knickname, by the way? Exi? 🙂
Yes, living by your own rule and feeling vs. getting jerked around by trying to please everyone. Absolutely! Thanks so much for your kind comments and thoughtful ideas! david
Hi David. What techniques do you use to teach people to make friends?
Thanks!!!
Hi Heather, I’m working on a Podcast on this topic of loneliness and making friends. I will try hard to remember my experience at Amherst College in Valentine Hall, which taught me SO MUCH about how to make friends! david
Dear David, Fabrice and Jill, I loved this podcast and if I had to summarize it in one word, it would be “balance.” We each need to find the balance that is right for us, but for good health we all need balance.
Keep those podcasts coming, at your own balance 🙂
Thanks, yes, balance! d