#41: People Pleaser? How To Say No With Clarity & Confidence

Jun 12, 2025

Do you keep saying yes — when every part of you wants to say no?

Three of the biggest self-sabotaging behaviours I see in high-achieving leaders I work with — what I call the 3P’s — are people pleasing, perfectionism and procrastination.

Today, we’re diving into people pleasing — a topic that comes up in nearly EVERY client conversation.

One client shared they were struggling to complete a project. The reason?

Diving deeper, we discovered the work didn’t energise or interest them. My client had agreed to collaborate on the project as a favour to the other person. But it wasn’t work they wanted to do.

No wonder it was a challenge to stay motivated!

This is the perfect example of what happens when you fail to set boundaries or say NO. You say yes out of obligation — because you feel you owe others something. And you become frustrated, apathetic or resentful as a result.

Even though I have strong boundaries, I found myself putting the needs of clients ahead of my own priorities and schedule. Over time, I’ve learnt the importance of setting boundaries with myself — and respecting my own time too.

Struggling to say NO? In today’s episode, I’m sharing a simple 5-part framework to help you say no with clarity and confidence.

You’ll learn:

  • The REAL reasons behind people pleasing and hidden consequences of struggling to say no and set boundaries
  • How to respond when you immediately say yes to any request, so you avoid committing to something you’ll regret later
  • Why every yes is ALSO a no — and the key questions to ask so you say yes to what mattes most and no to what doesn’t
  • A practical way to assess opportunities, so you know when to say yes or no and make decisions with confidence
  • How to say no gracefully — with exact scripts you can use to protect your time, energy and priorities

So hit play NOW — and let’s dive in!

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Connect and learn from me further:

>> Need help saying no or figuring out what you want in your career? Check out the Ignite Your Career program for high-achievers who want to take ownership of their careers with clarity, confidence and a strategic plan.

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