Corporate values, a clear no.

I’ve never been good at saying “no.” My default response to any kind of invitation, favor, or request is “Totally!” “Absolutely!” or the most self-defeating “I can’t wait!” Agree to lunch when you’re pressed against a deadline. I volunteer when I’m already exhausted. Then spend the next week re-adjusting your life to fit the situation. yes That wasn’t my intention.

on my podcast 50 words to describe snowmy co-host Emily John Garces and I go on what we call a language expedition, exploring brave new words. Each week, we explore expressions from around the world that don’t easily translate into English, words that capture the nuances of the human experience that our language often misses. In our episode “Russia’s reflection” We spoke with Masha Lichtenberg, a native Russian speaker from St. Petersburg. He introduced us to one such missing piece. he thought (not much).

In Russian, and yes, and Even so, together because it means no he thought literally translated Yes and no. But what it actually means is something like this: A firm, non-negotiable “no”. It’s not a tentative “maybe not” or a respectful “no thank you.” It’s a no that says, “Please don’t ask me anymore.” a Put your glass on the table and say, “That’s it.” no.

Masha explained that Russians tend to be concise. “We don’t say ‘Yes, please’ or ‘No, thank you,'” she says. The difference between “yes or no, simple and direct.” Even so, and he thought It’s in tone. The latter is used when someone hasn’t received the message. It is a firm, ruthless refusal, clear, final, and strangely free.

As I listened to her talk, I realized how often that word can be used in English. There are hundreds of ways to soften the feeling of no, such as “I wish I could,” “Next time,” and “Let me check your schedule.” We fill our rejections with emojis and exclamation points for fear of seeming rude. However, this kind of cushioning creates confusion rather than gentleness. Keep the conversation open even when you’re actually trying to close it.

When I asked Masha why Russians need such a strong denial, she said something surprising. “We’re not negative people, but our language has been hardened by history. It makes me feel better to be honest,” she said. There’s something healthy about that honesty, and your verbal immune system protects you. passive aggressive infection.

Maybe that’s the reason he thought It touched such a chord. It embodies what psychologists say assertive communication, Balance with passivity invasion. What you can set is clarity. boundary without it apology. And it is the boundaries themselves that make true connection possible. If everything is yes, nothing is yes.

A firm “no” can actually be an act of respect for yourself, your time, and even the person you’re saying no to. Confusion probably wastes everyone’s energy. A clear “no” is clean, efficient, and benevolent.

So I’m trying to do my practice he thoughtwearing boots, scarf and facing the wind. I’m not mad, it just happened. Because sometimes the kindest thing we can say, both to others and to ourselves, is “no.”