Today I left my office with a pleasant feeling that I’ve done my work properly and now I had every right to enjoy my evening. Why? It was quite an ordinary day, but in the last 30 minutes I said, “That is not going to work” about two different decisions.
I, like everybody else, hate to say “No.” But it is my job sometimes. I do it not only to prevent costly mistakes, but also to teach my team how to make the right calls.
Vetoing decisions is a very efficient way to synchronize with your team. It requires only 5 minutes of your time to say no and explain yourself. But your teammate will remember this practical case just perfectly. They will understand your approach and strategy much better.
You cannot achieve true synchronization with your team only by giving speeches and writing instructions. People tend to learn from trial and error and the context of practical examples.
Okay, what is the mortal sin that I mentioned in the headline? No, it is not missing an opportunity to say no. That’s just a mistake and everyone makes mistakes.
A manager is unforgivable if they fail to create the team atmosphere and relationships where “no” is beneficial.
