Cal Newport is an author and computer science professor who is known for his work on productivity, digital minimalism, and the impact of technology on society.
His writing on ‘deep work’ resonates with academics because it uses and gives examples from academia and research and, in this podcast on The Art of Saying No, he shares several strategies for saying no effectively, including:
- Acknowledge the impact that saying no will have on your life and how it can allow for important deep work and support you to avoid burnout.
- Track the requests being made of your time so that you have data to draw on when prioritising (e.g. I’ve said yes to three peer-review requests this year already).
- Recognise the emotional effort involved in saying no and that you’re not just taking the easy road out.
- Be clear to be kind. Recognise that a firm no can be more helpful for colleagues as they communicate your boundaries clearly.
- Have a structured process in place before deciding which requests to say yes and no to.
The “art of no” discussion is in the Deep Dive section of the podcast between 07:06 and 23:45.
All of Cal Newport’s resources are available on his The Deep Life website.
What will you take forward?
One thing to consider: What kind of deep work do you most want to protect, and what would it feel like to make significant progress with it?
Related Tags
Persona:
Juggler
Topic:
Prioritising and decision-making
Saying yes, saying no, and boundary setting
Time management and sustainable habits
Resource type:
Link
Related Resouces
See all Established Researcher resources
Reframe unhelpful beliefs about saying no
Challenge unhelpful beliefs about saying no and reframe boundaries as part of good leadership.
Review and enhance your recruitment practices
Make better hiring decisions that enable your research strategy and set your research group up for long-term success.
Crossing disciplinary boundaries: shaping a career between history and archaeology
Managing flexible working and caring responsibilities
Make flexible working workable for yourself and others, without compromising standards or credibility.
Sign up to our newsletter
The White Rose University Consortium actively engages with institutional, regional and national partners to propel positive change and create sustained impact for individuals, communities, and the region.
