Courage to say NO

Day 1

Client – Manager telephonic conversation

Client: We want Developer ABC to start working on Task A

Manager: Sure (with confidence)

Client: This work can be completed in 2 days. So lets freeze deadline as day after tomorrow evening.

Manager: pause for 2 seconds

Client: Are you there

Manager: Yes (with low voice)

Client: Lets go ahead and freeze the deadline.

Manager: yes ( with low voice)


Manager - Developer conversation

Manager: You should work on task A.

Developer: Sure. (with confidence)

Manager: You should deliver it day after tom

Developer: Pause for 2 seconds

Manager: I said you should developer it day after tom.

Developer: yes (with low voice)

Day 2

Manager - Developer conversation

Manager: How it it going ? Where do we stand ?

Developer: Going good. (with low voice)

Manager: Fine. Carry on.

Client – Manager telephonic conversation

Client: How is it going ?

Manager: Everything is going good.

Client: Cool.

Day 3

4 pm

Manager: Done with the task ?

Developer: Still doing. Will be done in sometime.

5pm

Manager: Done ?

Developer: Still doing. Will be done in sometime.

6pm

Manager: Done ?

Developer: Still doing. Will be done in sometime.

7pm

Client: Where is the deliverable ?

Manager: Will be delivering in sometime.

8pm

Manager: Are you done ?

Developer: No still doing.

Manager: Scoldings.

9pm

Client calls to manager

Manager scolds Developer

Client escalates matter to delivery manager (DM)

DM speaks to Manager

Manager scolds developer

This loop continues

10 pm -> 11 pm -> 12 am -> 1 am -> 2 am -> 3 am -> 4 am -> 5 am 

Developer: DONE (exhausted)

This is a common scenario in IT industry. This keeps happening. Working till late night culture is growing in IT industry. But what is the reason for it ? Is developer the culprit ? or Is it Manager ? or Is it client ?

Just take a break and think for a second. Are we slaves of clients ? Are we born to do what others say without even thinking? Are we magicians to do things on a fly ?

Obviously NO. When we are not why cannot we take courage and say what we are not!

When client says I need task day after tomorrow, Manager should think whether this is really possible ? Manager can talk to Developer to know whether it is possible.

When Manager speaks to Developer, Developer also agrees even when he/she knows it is not possible.

Many of us are scared to say NO, Many of us think saying NO is a bad thing, Many of us think saying no is showing disrespect to others. Think a second after reading this , Is saying NO a bad thing ?

The above scenario is just 1 example of IT industry late night work. There are many people who work late nights just because of not having courage to say NO.

Its difficult to adopt this. Learn to say No in a polite manner if task cannot be achieved in the given time.It will definitely help us in long run.

Think!