Never underestimate the importance of saying yes.
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Everyone needs someone to say yes.
My most impactful “Yes” came from an elementary school teacher who, despite my social isolation and subpar academic performance, chose to affirm my skills and abilities. Her simple words of belief unlocked the emotional gates that blocked my sense of agency and confidence—key ingredients for success. It was a de facto permission slip for me to finally lean into learning and self-improvement. Outside of my family, no one else had ever given me that type of encouragement. This moment shaped my thinking about life and business.
I understand that everyone occasionally needs affirmation and, at other times, will be asked to give it to others. What truly matters is how carefully we make our decisions and our awareness of the consequences they bring.
Avoid saying No too quickly, as it could overlook hidden assets. And never forget how it feels when you or your ideas never see the light of day.
It is easy to say no. A friend asks you out to dinner, but you already have plans, so no, you are going to have to pass. Or your partner asks you to go on vacation, but you have too much on your plate, so you will opt out. Saying no is almost second nature for most of us, even those who call themselves people pleasers. It is simple.
Yet with those no’s come a series of lost opportunities. That dinner plan could have involved the best dessert you have had in the past decade, which then became a story you told regularly at parties or events. While the vacation could have given you experiences you have never had before, like skydiving in Europe or scuba diving in aquamarine-colored oceans. You will never know because of your base response.
It is even easier to say no in your professional life, particularly when you are a primary decision maker. With a simple click, you can reject a meeting or a call. Perhaps that new idea you would have heard makes you feel uncomfortable, and you shut it down without dialogue or analysis. Consider whether preconceptions, comfort, or convenience are causing you to overlook something important.
Imagine that every idea or thought that a friend or colleague makes is like a balloon. They fill it up with all of their concepts of what it could be and then float it in your direction. When you say no, it is like adding a weight to the bottom of the balloon. It’s never going to go anywhere and will instead eventually deflate, leaving the idea out in the ether alone.
An organization that always says no falls victim to those balloon weights on a regular basis. Ideas fall to the wayside, and the company never prospers, not as much as it could. This also affects the culture, because employees will internalize risk aversion and no longer seek original or novel answers. Everyone and everything sinks to the bottom as a result.
However, look at the counterfactual. Companies that say yes more often have better results. The limits these organizations place on themselves often go away, leaving opportunities and upward movement. Now you are not weighing down those ideas but promoting more balloons in the office. Soon, you will have enough to pick up the entire building and your revenue with it.
Don’t make a Yes-or-No response your organization’s default decision. Instead, carefully weigh both the opportunities and challenges to achieve the best outcome. Giving space to people and ideas will not necessarily be the easiest path, but it will expand possibilities and just might make all the difference.
There’s just something powerful about giving and receiving a yes in life and in business.
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