Ask HN: Developers – How did you learn to say NO?

Re:Ask HN: Developers – How did you learn to say NO? by chadcmulligan on Friday August 05, 2016 @01:39AM (#12230278)

I seldom say no, I say "Yeh I can do that it might take so and so, I'm doing this at the moment, do you want me to put that on hold?" - if they're for the same person. If they're for different people then - "Yah I can do that, I'm doing this for fred at the moment, so have a talk to him if you like" (or to who ever else pays the bills). Seems to work. If it's a client, "I'll add it to the list and talk to (whoever's in charge) and see when we can do it for you". It gives an idea that there's a list and things are getting done as an added bonus.

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Re:Ask HN: Developers – How did you learn to say NO? by mrweasel on Friday August 05, 2016 @03:51AM (#12230676)

Letting people know that their request will interfere with projects for others, and they need to clear it with those people, not you, is always a good idea. People tend to view their projects as more important and will always put their needs before other, especially if they are pressured by their own deadlines. You don't want to be the person that pick which project gets done first. You'll always pick the wrong one.

One weird situation I often encounter is people wanting something on a deadline, but there isn't actually enough time or circumstances have changed. It's highly unproductive when people just keep repeating that a deadline must be meet, regardless of circumstances. What I have resorted to in these cases are not saying no, but asking what they'd have me do. That often removes the expectation of magic or whatever management believes is going to intervene if you just keeps pushing.

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Re:Ask HN: Developers – How did you learn to say NO? by Pengwin on Friday August 05, 2016 @03:12AM (#12230565)

This is my approach with things too. Instead of saying know I explain the complexities of what would happen by saying yes:

- Other projects will be pushed out of the way

- Your deadline is not feasible, I can do it by this date.

- The cost/time of me doing something would be high, due to my inexperience in doing that task.

- I personally think it is a bad idea and a waste of everyone's time, but it's your call.

Things may work differently for others, but turning a "no" to a "yes, on my terms" is what has worked well in any situation I've been in.

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Re:Ask HN: Developers – How did you learn to say NO? by abridgett on Friday August 05, 2016 @03:32AM (#12230620)

One twist on this that I like when "priority" is a foreign concept is "So you want me to drop so-and-so's work for yours. I'm happy to do that on one condition - anyone else can come over and ask me to drop your work for theirs."

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