A 5 Word Response That Should Sound An Alarm

Posted on May 10, 2010 | 0 comments

How many times have you had someone say to you, “I do not have time”?

This statement by itself is not alarming. There are plenty of times in life when situations dictate this as a necessary response. From a personal perspective, the ability to say no to requests or opportunities is an important one.

It is healthy at times to refrain from agreeing to additional outside activities or responsibilities in order to focus on your relationships or self-rejuvenation. For some this ability comes naturally. For others, the ability to say no must be learned.

Unlike your personal life, saying no in a business environment brings different ramifications. When a task request is declined in business, it is possible that something important in your company is not getting done.

You have probably heard a multitude of reasons (or excuses) for rejecting or avoiding a particular task request. Yet there is one particular response that should raise an alarm whenever it is uttered…“I do not have time”.

Why?

When someone verbalizes a concern for his or her work availability, there is a larger underlying issue. “I do not have time” is either an individual cop out or an indication of larger systemic issues. The former raises questions about the work ethic, efficiency, or performance of the team member making the statement. The latter indicates a potential issue with the systematization of the business.

The use of this particular statement should raise a red flag. If the business were systematized and efficient, a particular task request would have its place within the system. The alternative is to leave a task to the mercy of someone who does not have enough time.