Six ways to say No and mean it

Sociopaths generally do not take No for an answer. If they want something they really are really ready ofr quite a lot to get it. Saying them No is difficult.  In movie Fatal Attraction there are several pretty notable scenes on this affect

• The first one is the scene is when Alex inexpediently comes to Dan's office (45:36; 50:36). At this point Dan clearly realize that he got into a trap. 
• Another pretty educational scene at subway 57:50  when Alex tells that she is pregnant. This is a pretty powerful scene and it  deserve watching several times.
• Another moment is at 1:06 when Dan discovered Alex taking with his wife.
• At 1:09 he tries to threaten her. It does not work too well.

There is also a category of people for whom saying No is really difficult.  They are over-concerned about hurting feelings, straining relationships, and causing unhappiness.

Here are several simple recommendation that might ease the pain.

• Is not until we can say No, our Yes means Yes. So the ability to say No is a at the end a matter of self-respect. Saying Yes when you would rather say No not only devalue your as a person, it also creates considerable stress, which can even demonstrate itself in physical symptoms, such as headaches, shoulder tension and disturbed sleep.
• Don't confuse rejection of the idea or suggestion with the rejection of a person. Some people who find saying No difficult are confusing rejection of a request with rejection of the person making the request. Saying No doesn't mean you don't respect or even like the person, just that you're refusing their current request, and that's it. It's not the end of world. 
• Be honest, calm and polite.  When you are avoiding saying No when you mean it,  you are creating more difficulties for yourself.  You demonstrate you malleability and weakness as a person. Remember that saying No helps you to keep control over the situation, and avoid escalating the situation in a wrong direction, harmful for you, or unnecessary alienating the other person. People are happier to accept an honest No, than be faced with indecision and a delayed refusal.

1. The direct No. When someone asks you to do something you don't want to do, just say No. It difficult for many people, but after you said it it's much easier then to avoid direct answer all the time and feel awkward. No apologizing, be direct and succinct. If someone asks you to join them for lunch and don't want to go, simply say: No, no thank you.
    
2. The reflecting No. Here you acknowledge the content and feeling of the request, then you add the assertive refusal at the end, for example:

   I know you want to talk to me about ... , but, sorry, I can't do lunch today.

3. The reasoned No. Give a brief and genuine reason for the refusal without opening up further negotiation:

   I can't have lunch with you because I have a report that needs to be finished by tomorrow.

4. The rain check No.  A way of saying No to a specific request without giving a definite No. It's a prelude to negotiation, not a rejection of the request. Only use it if you genuinely want to meet the request: I can't have lunch with you today, but I could make it sometime next week.
    
5. The enquiring No.  A way of opening up the request, to see if it's something you want to do:
   I can't have lunch today, but is there anything else you want to talk to me about, other than the new proposal?
    
6. The broken record. This can be used a lot, in all sorts of situations. Repeat the simple statement of refusal again and again. No explanation, just repeat it. It's necessary to use this with particularly persistent requests:

   No, I can't have lunch with you.
        Oh, please, it won't take long.
   No, I can't have lunch with you.
        Oh, go on, I'll pay.

   ... ... ... 

NEWS CONTENTS

• 20130204 : How to Disagree Agreeably ( Real Simple )

Old News ;-)

[Feb 04, 2013] How to Disagree Agreeably

Real Simple

Yankees and Red Sox. Red states and blue states. Your seven-year-old and your nine-year-old. Humans, it seems, are wired for disagreements. These conflicts can be angry, awkward messes, or they can be civil exchanges of viewpoints that lead to better decisions at work and closer relationships at home. What makes the difference is usually not the issue at hand but how it is handled. Here, then, are the rules of engagement, followed by tips on how to speak your mind (to almost anyone). No bench-clearing brawls, no threats of secession, no backseat turf wars involved.

The Rules of Engagement

Keep these in mind at your next impasse; they might help you avoid an unproductive argument.

1. Pick your battles. "You do not have to address every injustice or irritation that comes along," says Harriet Lerner, author of The Dance of Anger: A Woman's Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationships. "But it is a mistake to stay silent when an issue matters and the cost of silence is feeling bitter, resentful, or disconnected."
2. Understand the stakes. Even if you think that you know the other person's issues, it can't hurt to pose a direct question. Ask " 'What's your real concern here?' " says Rebecca Zucker, cofounder of Next Step Partners, an executive-coaching and leadership-development firm in San Francisco. "Often she's not really voicing it."
3. Wait until you're calm. When emotions run high, disagreements can turn personal, and that's rarely productive. Recognize when emotions are charged, and don't have the conversation until you have a cool head.
4. Be respectful. If someone thinks you're listening thoughtfully, she is more likely to respond in kind. An empathetic phrase, such as "I understand how you feel," can go a long way.
5. Speak for yourself. Rather than criticizing the other person, stick to expressing your own feelings and actions ("I felt hurt when…" or "I'm concerned because…"). "It's honest and authentic when you say how you truly view a situation," says Jennell Evans, cofounder of the Washington, D.C.–based consulting firm Strategic Interactions.
6. Don't interrogate. Try not to go on a lawyerlike attack with a litany of yes-or-no questions. This tack is aggressive, puts the other person on the defensive, and can belittle her, Zucker says.
7. State the facts. If you have them, use them. Facts give opinions and feelings a lot more credibility. It also helps that "they aren't personal or emotional," so they can help make your disagreement constructive, Zucker says. Just make sure you really do have the facts. At the very least, you should be able to name your source.
8. Speak to common interests. Keep the common goal and good in mind. Remember: If an argument turns nasty, nobody wins. Tell the person how much she means to you and how much you value her opinion.
9. Aim to clear the air rather than win. In many instances, the disagreement will end in détente. Don't try to win the argument; it's more important to focus on understanding why the other person thinks differently than you do.
10. Consider compromise. It doesn't get you exactly what you want, but it can be an effective way for people to overcome a disagreement and move forward. Remember: A compromise doesn't have to be equal to be acceptable. However, it is important for you to understand what you're both giving up and to be comfortable with that equation. "You don't have to feel happy about a compromise, but you have to feel you can live with it," says Robin Hoberman-Becker, a mediator and divorce lawyer in Chicago.

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