Want to advance your career? Saying "no" may be the key.
"It's wonderful to be the go-to person to a point -- until you find you're totally overwhelmed, exhausted, resentful and in a time crunch," said Susan Newman, author of "The Book of No: 250 Ways to Say It -- And Mean It and Stop People-Pleasing Forever." "Setting workplace boundaries means you will be doing better work and not spreading yourself all over the lot."
Here's how to get there:
1. Track your yeses. You can't set a boundary you don't know you have, so watch yourself for a week, Newman said. Where do you say "yes"? Do you agree to lunch with that coworker on the day of a major presentation? Do you accept another project on top of the eight you already have? Do you volunteer to change the printer's ink cartridge for a harried coworker? Do you work on the Saturday of your daughter's recital?
2. Figure out your priorities. "Every time you say yes, you're giving up something," said Newman. So get your priorities straight: Do you need to be everyone's best friend or be the last person to leave work each day? Or is it more important to choose projects that will advance your career and give yourself time to do them? "You should always ask yourself, 'Are these things moving me forward and gaining me respect, or is it just one more piece of busy work?'" she said.
