Pushing back can feel uncomfortable.
You don’t want conflict. You don’t want a difficult conversation. You don’t want awkwardness.
And also, you don’t want to agree to something that doesn’t work for you.
So when you get a request you really don’t like:
👉 Restate what they’re asking for
👉 Explore why it matters to them
👉 Show you understand the outcome they want
Then, explain what success looks like for you. Be clear about your constraints. Say you want a solution that works for both of you – a win-win.
You’re not agreeing to their request. And you’re not disagreeing with it.
It’s always possible to push back.
And it’s always better to push back without pushing away.
