Marketers at Work

Anyone who works in the management department of a business will have to deal with marketers on a daily basis through email, telephone, mail and sometimes you have to interact with them directly. Dealing with sales people can be very frustrating as it is their job to convince you to invest in what they have to offer.

Lets say a local newspaper wants you to run an add in their paper. You see this as a good opportunity for advertisement and visibility, however your company's budget wont allow the asking price. If you do not want to deter them from seeking your business in the future, you will not want to give them an outright "no" as an answer. Instead, it is better to be indirect and suggest that it is something you may be interested in, however you must consider your tight budget for the remainder of the year. You should acknowledge the benefits this could have for your company and if you are truly interested in the product or service being offered, you should invite the rep to visit you at an agreed date in the new year. If it is a service or product you are not interested in at the time, you can let the sales representative know that you will think about it and that you will be in contact with them should you choose to purchase their offer. Finally, if it is something you are absolutely not interested in, you can either use a direct approach and tell them "no, thank you i am not interested." Alternatively you can take the indirect approach and say the businesses budget cannot accommodate for any other expenses this year.

What other approach or method could you use in similar situation?

Refusing Invitations

Do you feel guilty saying NO?

If you are someone who always feels obliged to appease people, you need to break this habit now. If it hasn't already, this habit will become a burden to you because at times, people will make requests of you that are beyond your physical or other capabilities. For instance, a friend asks you to speak at a charity function but it conflicts with your sons first championship hockey game. You should start by graciously thanking them for the invitation and acknowledge the honor of the request. It is better to be direct and tell your friend that you have other obligations rather than delaying the inevitable truth that you cannot attend. Your friend should  respect your honesty which allows them to find a new candidate or make other arrangements. You should let them know that if the circumstances were any different you would be more than happy to make help them out, especially knowing the great work that the charity does. Finally, end your refusal with a forward look and suggest that you are open to future invitations.

What are some other positive ways to say "no" to a personal invitation?

Refusing a Request for Personal Information

Whether its your Facebook password or any other social networking site, there are some pieces of personal information that your employer may request of you that you have the right to keep private. It is important to know your rights as an employee and use them in a professional manner when refusing a request.

Employers may want access to your social networking accounts in order to find out any information about your personal life. This information can have either positive or negative implications on your personal life, regardless, you have the right to keep this information private and separate from your professional life. Request for personal information like this should never be a criteria for potential employment, you should not be afraid to say no. Inform yourself of your rights so that you can have legal support in order to professionally refuse a request for personal information.

Click here to see how Facebook supports protecting your privacy

Please share any related experiences you or a colleague/friend may have had in the past, any advice you can offer, or what sort of response you received.

Learn to say "NO"

We live in a world full of temptations, in many instances it is hard to differentiate to what we want and what we need. Rejection can be a very difficult thing to deal with emotionally for both parties. People may let their eagerness to please others override their own capabilities and requirements. Feeling obliged to say yes to all the offers and requests proposed to you in everyday life can be very exhausting and stressful for anyone. You will need to refuse requests in all aspects of your life including your professional work life or personal and family life. For example,your employer or spouse may make an unreasonable request, or someone may try and convince you to buy something you know you can't afford. The quality of our work suffers, balance in our life suffers, and often we experience internal discord within ourselves. It is very important to learn how to properly refuse requests that are unreasonable or that do not fit with your circumstances. It is best to give a simple answer and explanation when refusing a request. Others will appreciate your honesty and will negotiate a solution that works for both of you. However, if your attempt at rejection is not taken kindly, be sure to stand your ground. You have the right to control and respect your own needs and do not owe anything to anyone else.