How to say no without hurting someone's feelings

2026-05-14

Learning to say no is a critical skill that helps prevent unwanted commitments and poor decisions, write conflict negotiation experts John Richardson and Attia Qureshi, who note that preparation and clear communication can make refusals easier. Be polite, but firm in your refusal, and make sure to iterate that your reason has nothing to do with them but is a personal preference, Richardson and Qureshi write.

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