We’ve all said “yes” at work when we really wanted to say “no.” In this episode of My Emotional Work Life, Jennifer McCanna welcomes back coach Lucy Gower to share practical strategies for setting boundaries without burning bridges.

They explore why we default to pleasing others, the impact on our time and energy, and tools like the “yes, if…” approach to decline requests confidently. If you want to protect your energy while staying professional, make sure you tune in.

Here are the Highlights:

1. Pause before answering to check your capacity
2. Buy time by asking to come back with an answer
3. Use “Yes, if…” to clarify priorities instead of a flat no
4. Lucy’s formula for saying no in a way that feels good
5. The importance of practising saying the words out loud
6. Focus on when you are available, not when you’re not
7. Let your no stand without over-explaining.

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Tap to Support You

This short tap will boost your comfort around saying no. Let me know what resonates? https://vimeo.com/1140019128?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

A note from Jennifer and McCanna Coaching Ltd: I invite you to tap along to the videos alongside these episodes whilst taking full responsibility for your health and wellbeing. EFT is a fantastic self help tool with ever growing credibility due to positive results from scientific studies. It is not a substitution for seeking professional advice. If you are concerned about your physical or mental health please consult a qualified medical professional. If you would prefer to explore EFT with a qualified practitioner, get in touch and I’ll share some options.

Meet your host Jennifer McCanna:

Jennifer McCanna has been coaching leaders in organisations around the world since 2011. From the UN Refugee Agency to HSBC, government departments to national and local charities, she specialises in supporting clients to work through the often messy, emotional challenges of leadership so they feel calm, energised and able to have a real impact in the world.

If you’ve experienced a challenging relationship, restructure or other difficult period in your working life, and as a result your self-belief has taken a hit, Jennifer’s blend of pure coaching, emotional freedom technique and Resilience Dynamic® approaches will help you process the emotional fallout, as well as equipping you with tools to stay energised and effective as a leader.

When she’s not recording podcasts she’s busy working with leaders 1-1, or as part of their leadership team, and designing and delivering leadership development programmes for leaders at all levels.

Connect with Jennifer:

Download free resources here Resources and Insights | Jen McCanna

Explore more about Jen’s coaching here Effective, Trusted Leadership Coaching | Jen McCanna

Follow her on LinkedIn Jennifer McCanna PCC | LinkedIn

And on Instagram Jen McCanna ⚡️Leadership Coach ⚡️EFT (@jen_the_leadership_coach) • Instagram photos and videos

About Lucy Gower:

Lucy Gower is the founder and director of Lucidity. An accomplished facilitator, trainer, and coach, she is the bestselling author of The Innovation Workout and co-host on the Quiet Leadership Revolution podcast.

Lucy brings leaders and their teams together to achieve clarity, think differently, and take action for impactful results. Through tailored training and facilitation, Lucy supports her clients to solve complex problems - whether that’s developing new business strategies, launching product propositions, or cultivating high-performance team cultures. She works in partnership with leaders to provide the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to accelerate progress and maximise impact.

Lucy has empowered hundreds of individuals and teams to collaborate, innovate, and bring about lasting change.

Connect with Lucy:

Follow her on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucygower/

Website: lucidity.org.uk