Here's Why Your Team Needs to Say No More Than Yes

In a world warped around hyper-efficiency, the most strategic productivity tool is the word no

We say "yes" too often — and every "yes" adds to our list of things to do.

When we want to achieve more, we add. When we want to solve a problem, we add. And when we want to feel strategic, we add.

As a business, it's especially challenging to stay focused on the right things, because even more people say "yes" and pile ideas, opportunities and priorities onto the plate. Now your company has a plate so full it's spilling all over the floor.

That's when the productivity hacking ensues.

The reality is that we can only be so efficient. We can't move at Ludicrous Speed through our to-do list as human beings. We reach a point where we've pushed our team so hard that they leave for a company that respects them and their time.

The better approach is to say "no" more often than you say "yes" — and to empower your team to do the same.

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Efficient and effective are not the same thing

It can be hard to resist the instinct to say "yes" and add to what we do. We want to do it all as a company. And we feel…