Member-only story
“Thanks for taking the time to meet with me today. I really appreciate it, but I don’t see a fit for you in our organization,” the CEO said to me.
The CEO’s tone was firm and even pleasant. He certainly wasn’t being blunt to hurt me. In fact, I think he was trying to help me.
And I knew he was right. I wasn’t really a fit.
So, we shook hands, and I walked back to my car. I wasn’t angry.
I can’t say I was happy because who wants to hear, “No,” but I was actually pleased with the results.
I’ve been told “No” a lot in my life. But, up until then, I’d never been told “No” for something important in that way.
Usually, the “No Thank You” is delivered in the worst way possible. We’ve all experienced variations of them. And, I’m not proud of it, but I’ve used some of these examples myself.
Here are some of worst ways you can say, “No:”
A. The Ignore.
We’ve all experienced this one. You have a great first meeting, and it seems like you’re on the path to getting to the next phase.
You agree to meet again soon. You email to set up the next meeting, and what do you hear back? Nothing. So, you do what any aggressive…
