One of the first lessons in geometry I learnt in school was Pythagoras' Theorem, which mesmerized me with its simple yet compelling logic. It was Pythagoras who also taught me one of my first lessons as a manager. I still remember the profound wisdom of his statement: "The oldest, shortest words — "yes" and "no" — are those which require the most thought."
Many of us have agonized over the right way to say "no." As leaders, we learn to be careful about making negative statements, so we don't dampen people's initiative, demoralize them, or undermine the chances of getting something done.
To read the original article: How Not to Say Yes - Vineet Nayar - Harvard Business Review
