Say no to extra work without sounding rude or unhelpful
Use clear English when someone gives you another task, asks for an immediate answer or sets a deadline you cannot meet.
The guide gives you short replies for conversations, calls, Teams and Slack.
Immediate digital download after payment. No subscription.
- 36-page digital guide
- Immediate access
- One-off payment: €7
“I’ll try” can sound like yes
“Can you finish the full report by tomorrow?”
You already have two deadlines. You know you cannot finish everything, but the other person is waiting for your answer.
“Okay. I’ll try.”
You mean that you are not sure. Your manager may understand that you have accepted the deadline.
“No. That is impossible.”
A direct translation can cause a different problem. The answer is clear, but it may sound too blunt with a manager, client or senior colleague.
The right reply depends on what you need to change:
- the task
- the deadline
- the amount of work
- the order of your priorities
- the information or support available
The guide helps you name the real problem and answer clearly.
Give the answer first, then say what can happen next
A useful reply normally has three parts.
- Say what you cannot do“I can’t complete the full report by Friday.”
- Explain what is stopping you“Finance still needs to check the figures.”
- Say what you can do instead“I can send the key figures on Friday and the full report on Tuesday.”
“I can’t complete the full report by Friday because Finance still needs to check the figures. I can send the key figures on Friday and the full report on Tuesday.”
Here, you are accepting the report but changing the deadline.
Use the replies in conversations, calls, Teams and Slack.
Find the reply that fits the situation
Check before you agree
Ask for time to check your workload, the deadline or what the task involves.
Say no to extra work
Explain that you cannot take on another task now, or say when you may have time for it.
You can also explain when a task belongs to another person or sits outside the work already agreed.
Change a deadline or priority
Say that you can do the work, but not by the date requested. When two tasks are urgent, ask your manager to decide.
“I can complete the presentation or the report by Friday, but not both. Which should I prioritise?”
The guide also includes replies for explaining what you need first, correcting an answer you gave too quickly, keeping your position when someone continues to push, last-minute requests, meetings, approval, work outside your role and short messages for Teams and Slack.
Choose the situation and use the reply at work
Every situation gives you the words to use, the tone to expect and the small changes that make a reply sound careful, neutral or firm.
Choose the situation, change the details and use the reply at work.
Keep a clear reply ready for the next difficult request
- The complete 36-page PDF guide
- Replies for 14 workplace situations
- Examples for conversations and calls
- Short messages for Teams and Slack
- Tone notes and phrase comparisons
- A worksheet for preparing your own replies
Use the guide on your phone, tablet or computer.
€7
One-off payment.
Get Say No and Push Back for €7Immediate access after payment. No subscription.
Questions before you buy
Will these replies sound natural at work?
Yes. The guide uses clear workplace English that people genuinely use in conversations, calls and workplace chats.
It also explains when a reply sounds careful, neutral, direct or informal, so you can choose language that suits the person and the situation.
How will I know which reply to use?
The guide is organised by workplace situation.
You can go straight to the section you need, such as extra work, an unrealistic deadline, conflicting priorities, a last-minute request or someone who keeps pushing after you have answered.
Can I use the replies with my manager or a client?
Yes.
The guide includes language for colleagues, managers, senior people and clients. It also shows you which informal expressions are better kept for colleagues you know well.
Is the guide suitable for my English level?
It is for non-native professionals who already use English at work but need better language for difficult requests.
The explanations are clear, and you do not need advanced grammar to use the replies.
Do I need to memorise all the phrases?
No.
Choose the situations that happen most often in your job and start with one or two replies from each section. You can adapt them with your own task, deadline or priority.
Is this guide for speaking or writing?
It is mainly for short replies in conversations and calls. It also includes messages for Teams and Slack.
It does not include complete emails with subject lines, greetings and closings. For full email templates, see 78 Workplace Emails.
What exactly will I receive?
You will receive a 36-page PDF guide with replies for 14 workplace situations, real conversations, short chat examples, tone notes and “Don’t say this / Say this” comparisons.
You will also get a page where you can prepare the replies you are most likely to need in your own job.
How will I receive the guide?
You can download the PDF immediately after payment and save it on your phone, tablet or computer.
Can I get a refund?
Unfortunately, because this is a digital download, we cannot remove access after purchase.
Please read the product details and contact us before buying if you are unsure whether the guide is suitable for you.
Say what you can do without agreeing to what you cannot do
Open the guide when someone adds more work, changes a deadline or asks for an immediate answer.
Find the situation, add your real task or date and use the reply.
Get Say No and Push Back for €7Immediate digital download. One-off payment. No subscription.