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The Hidden Cost of Saying "Yes": Why Great Leaders Know When to Say "No"
Saying yes to everything is the fastest way to burn out your team and lose trust in your leadership.
Div Khetia
May 12, 2025
It feels good to say "yes."
It feels collaborative. Supportive. Positive.
But for leaders, "yes" comes with a hidden cost—a cost paid in stretched teams, missed deadlines, burned-out talent, and shattered credibility.
Why Saying "Yes" Is So Tempting
Most leaders don’t say yes because they lack judgment.
They say yes because:
They want to be seen as supportive partners.
They fear disappointing stakeholders.
They confuse activity with impact.
But here's the reality: Saying yes to everything means committing fully to nothing.
The Art of Prioritization
Every high-performing organization, project, or career is built on disciplined choices. Great leaders ask themselves:
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