Learn to Say No to These 3 Things to Take Your Business to New Heights One of the most difficult challenges as an entrepreneur is learning to say "no." Turning down potential opportunities is difficult, but it can be essential for your business moving forward.
By Barak Jacques Edited by Kara McIntyre
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Many business owners may find it counter-intuitive to believe that saying "no" could lead to business growth. However, it can be one of the most important strategies for achieving success and long-term sustainability. By being selective in what tasks and projects are taken on, companies can free up valuable resources to focus on the most important opportunities and create an environment of success that most definitely led to business growth.
1. Say no to unnecessary expenses
In today's competitive marketplace, cutting costs is essential for companies to survive or achieve business growth. Saying "no" can be a powerful tool in helping businesses reach their goals while saving money and having a better cash flow. When it comes to lower-cost operations, learning how and when to say "no" may be one of the most important lessons a successful business chief must master.
Cutting back on expenses can drastically reduce overhead and increase profitability, but making this change means investing time into analyzing which costs are truly necessary for long-term sustainability versus those that are no longer required or affordable in the current climate. For example, having the courage to say "no" to your suppliers might lead to improved cash flow, decreased debt, and financial freedom over time. And as business owners, you'll have to learn how to do it sooner or later so you better start right away.
Related: How to Set Boundaries as an Entrepreneur
2. Say no to job candidates who don't fit your business — even during a talent shortage
Poor staffing decisions have a major impact on the success of any business. Low-quality employees can cause decreased productivity, and when it comes to running a business, time is money. Therefore, it's essential to make sure you hire the right people who are capable of delivering quality results in an efficient manner. By saying "no" to inadequate staffing decisions, you can ensure that your team is equipped with individuals who understand their roles and possess the necessary skill set to get the job done right. Properly staffed teams help improve performance and quality of work output while reducing costs associated with employee training or mistakes due to inexperience. In addition, having staff members with good morale helps create a positive work environment which further boosts productivity levels and contributes positively towards growing your business.
Many entrepreneurs and company owners tend not to give proper attention to the importance of employees in their company. Still, many studies in recent years show that employees who are satisfied and engaged at work are employees who, in practice, bring higher productivity and higher income to their company and take an active part in the company's growth. There is no magic formula for finding such employees, but one thing is certain: We must give great importance to recruiting personnel in our company.
Our employees must be suitable and have the right skill set for the job they were hired for. It's a win-win situation; the employees are satisfied at work, feel appreciated and valued, have a positive impact and are more involved in the processes. When this happens, you can expect an increase in productivity and income. Several years ago, a study examining companies with a low percentage of employee engagement versus a high percentage showed that high employee engagement in companies resulted in a 10% increase in customer positive ratings, a 22% increase in profitability and a 21% increase in work productivity. With such data, it is not worth arguing. Learn to say "no" to mediocre personnel, bring in employees with appropriate skills and give them the right conditions for growth. Their success = your success.
3. Say no to (some) tempting business deals
Knowing when to say "no" is an essential skill for any business owner. Refusing the wrong opportunities or deals can spell trouble, but so can saying "yes" to the wrong ones. Learning to keep sharks at bay, literally and figuratively, is always a good idea. Sharks in the water are a danger but don't be fooled by sharks on land who want to buy out your company or offer you a bad deal; pay attention to them as well.
Remember, sometimes the best deal is to remain independent and make your own decisions on the direction of the business rather than rely on advice from those you do not know or can't be 100% trusted. Your fear is natural — we all have a fear of change in a way — but it doesn't make it a good enough reason to say "yes" to the first competitor or investor trying to get you out of the game. Saying "no" and refusing such a serious offer should be carefully considered, but under the right conditions, the refusal may lead to greater business growth; now that you know people are interested in your activity, it may be a huge motivational shot for you and your entire staff down the road. In addition, the refusal may signal to potential buyers and other sharks that you value your company and operation at a higher value.
Related: Why Setting Boundaries Is the Secret to Preserving Energy and Focusing on What Matters
Take, for example, the navigation app Waze; the company received low bids early on and thought it was worth more. Later, very good offers came; according to the reports on various news sites, Apple offered about $500 million to buy Waze. What was Waze's answer? You guessed right — the answer was "no." Then Facebook made a very generous purchase offer of $1 billion. Waze company bravely said "no" once again. Then few offers were bid by Google, and the last one reportedly ranged between $1.1-$1.3 billion. This time Waze took the offer with both hands and achieved a very impressive high-tech exit. I can't guarantee that the Waze example will work in most cases, but it's a real example of why you must know when to say "no" even when the temptation is overwhelming.
Saying "no" helps open up growth opportunities, and learning when to say no is a powerful tool that can help unlock potential for growth within the organization. The ability of a business owner or team leader to recognize their capacity is essential in order to turn down certain tasks and projects that may take away from the main objectives of their business, creating a more productive environment and happier employees, etc. A clever entrepreneur will know when it's time to balance between saying "yes" and flowing with the river to taking risks and taking advantage of opportunities they can handle and convert into a business growth opportunity.
