There were once four scientists who decided to take a systematic approach to honing one of working life's great skills: the art of saying no.
With workloads heading to burnout levels of busyness, they agreed that in the space of one year, they would collectively turn down 100 work-related requests and track what happened as a result.
Having drawn up a spreadsheet to record what each passed up and why, and how they felt about it, they set about declining a raft of requests to review journal articles, write grant proposals or run more things at work.
Together, they also turned down 31 speaking invitations fewer than the 43 talks and guest lectures they still gave.
It took them 10 months to rack up their 100th "no", or roughly 25 rejections each, by which time they had learnt several things.
First, the act of tracking your work itself makes it easier to say no, partly because you get a better idea of everything you're doing.
Also, a firm rejection is better than a "soft no" because agreeing to, say, give a talk in a few months' time, or review a paper instead of co-writing it, invariably leads to bigger asks later.
ãã®èšäºã¯ The Straits Times ã® August 27, 2024 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã9,000 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã ?  ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
ãã®èšäºã¯ The Straits Times ã® August 27, 2024 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã9,000 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã? ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
SCCCI marks 60th anniversary of its iconic building with exhibition, $1.2m donation
At 14, he constructed a three-dimensional model of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) building without floor plans or architectural drawings.
Residents of Sunset Way estate, Clementi condo get new 1.2km road
For as long as he has lived in Clementi Street 12, Sunset Way has been Mr Chan Jun Xiong's only road home.
Community lawn, movable platforms| proposed at former railway station
URA studying suggestions that are part of winning proposal in competition
Disputed elections becoming a global phenomenon, report finds
Voter turnout is diminishing around the world and the results of elections are increasingly being questioned, a report on the state of democracy said on Sept 17.
UN chief condemns 'collective punishment' of Palestinians
He describes the suffering in Gaza as unimaginable but is hopeful of a ceasefire
Climate change set to worsen malnutrition crisis among children
Malnutrition is the world's worst child health crisis and climate change will only make things more severe, according to philanthropist Bill Gates.
More in S-E Asia focused on livelihoods over climate
Geopolitics driving region's concerns with food security, inflation: Researcher
Thai Cabinet approves $5.66b cash handout to help revive economy
Thailand's Cabinet approved a cash handout plan totalling 145.6 billion baht (S$5.66 billion) that will benefit millions of poor people and help stimulate South-east Asia's second-largest economy.
Singaporeans stay indoors to avoid worst of typhoon
They saw fallen trees, experienced power outages and had to cancel plans, but Singaporeans in Shanghai managed to keep themselves safe by staying indoors as Typhoon Bebinca raged outside.
Shanghai cleans up after strongest storm in decades
Emergency crew has to clear some 1,800 felled trees, restore power to 30,000 homes