Because I am usually also a people pleaser, and since I do not want to be perceived as “difficult”, I tend to find myself in a similar situation as you Samantha. However, thanks to that, I also find myself rethinking and critically assessing a situation before saying ‘no’. And when I do, I try to always say the ‘why’. So in a sense, saying ‘no’ pushes me to better lead. Looking at the situations I have been in, saying ‘no’ often requires more dialogue and engagement. That’s why it is the hard(er) way.
It’s funny how I have become known as ‘the friend with boundaries’, because I know how to say ‘no’ (in social settings). That teaches me that we all have to learn to say ‘no’ a little more. Not only socially, but also professionally.
