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Alisa Kennedy Jones's avatar

I love this! This is actually the first year I've been able to do this with my extended family (brother, nephews, father, etc) who tend to come at me with servant-style "Aunt Bea" requests. I have always found it extremely difficult to do in a corporate setting because. apart from a few amazing bosses, I've had a number of toxic situations where if I wasn't constantly producing--it was--you're out. It's ridiculously sane response you've laid out... that we almost need to teach them... Ok, here's how you need to treat this situation and ME... with a modicum of respect. I hear you, I'm going to take this time to do x (b/c I always have a full plate) and THEN I will see to your issue. "Boundaries are power"

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Alicia Dara's avatar

Exactly! I especially love it when women learn to say, "I don't love the way you're speaking to me right now. Could you recalibrate your language please?" The secret is you have to trust the other person to adult their way through it without qualifying or minimizing your request. That's all it is: a simple request, and we all have the right to make it.

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