Turn 'no' into a 'yes, but…'

Shawn Wood over on Dumb Little Man* has some great ideas on how to say no without ever actually saying the word no. As a freelancer, saying no can be hard because you never know where your next job is going to come from, or indeed, whether it will come along at all. Shawn reckons that his way of saying no ensures you still come across with a positive and all-important can-do attitude, while still asserting yourself and controlling the situation. This round-about way of saying things may not suit everyone (it reminds me of my management consultancy days), but whether you chose to deploy it or not, it’s an increasingly important skill to master in today’s marketplace. Excellent advice for all freelance translators, newly established and long practising:

Five ways to say yes and never say no:

• Yes. I can do this in your timeframe and in your budget.
• Yes. I can do this in your budget but I am going to have to change the timeframe.
• Yes. I can do this, but not in your timeframe or your budget. Let’s negotiate.
• Yes. I can do this, but I do not think it is the best way. May I make suggestions?
• Yes, I can have someone else do this for you.

* hat tip to Fortify Your Oasis – thanks Rowan