4 Templates Successful People Use to Politely Turn Down Opportunities

The best leaders know that learning when to turn down opportunities is just as important as creating them.

After all, as the old saying goes, there’s only so much time in a day. That’s why the most successful people understand the value in prioritizing projects and not getting distracted by every ask.

But let’s be honest, it’s really flattering when another team asks you to present at their department meeting, or a co-worker asks to pick your brain, or your boss asks you to represent the company at a conference—so when opportunity knocks it can be hard to say no.

If you’re a leader at work, it’s likely you have two or three areas in which you have a reputation for expertise. So if you get invited to weigh in (or speak) on one of these topics, don’t hesitate to give the thumbs up.

But if it’s something completely random, you’re allowed to politely decline! Especially if you’re not familiar with the topics, you risk ruining the reputation you’ve so clearly built up.

This post was first published by the friendly folks at The Muse.