If you say no early in a cycle, and…
If you say no early in a cycle, and the recipient of that though knows that you mean it, you will not have to say no as frequently in the future.
— from Communication & Conflict (Communication/Conflict)
In the book
Make honest feedback easy to give by asking for it small: tell me one thing to start doing, and one thing to stop. And learn to say no early and clearly, because once people know your no is real, you will have to say it far less often. Now the weather, because no amount of good technique spares you from conflict — every real relationship eventually brings it. — Communication & Conflict (Communication/Conflict)