A leader’s “no” defines him as much or more as his “yes.” Yes, you need to be a dealmaker and have operational savvy. But the sooner we learn to say “no,” the better we become at not sabotaging strategy or undermining operational process and procedures. Begin the habit of saying “no” to attractive opportunities until you have vetted with your team its strategic alignment.

• I like Jim Collins’ article on creating a “Stop Doing List.” This list, of course, requires a chorus of “no’s.”
• In his insightful article, Collins helps you answer these three questions:
• 1. What are you deeply passionate about?
• 2. What are you are genetically encoded for—what activities do you feel just "made to do"?
• 3. What makes economic sense—what can you make a living at?
• Perhaps you use these questions as a filter for your decision-making. As we learn to say “no,” our “yes’s become much more meaningful. A “just say no” approach requires discipline, but mostly trust. You trust that the Lord is leading you and that He will take care of the people and projects you pass over. You trust your team to grow up and step up to meet the challenge. “No” is your friend.
• Read more about prioritization.