How to Say No at Work
A video lesson built on a Harvard Business Review clip about refusing workplace requests using a four-part framework (consider, acknowledge, use evidence, reinforce or renegotiate). It suits B1–B2 professionals who need to manage workload and push back on requests, and it ends with a manager–employee role-play.
Print-ready A4 PDF · teacher's notes and answer key included
What's inside
- Discussion
- Vocabulary matching
- Video comprehension (gist)
- Gap-fill (listening for detail)
- Language focus discussion
- Role-play
- Feedback discussion
- Workplace challenge and reflection
By the end, learners can
- Identify gist and detail in an authentic workplace video
- Use ten expressions for workload and refusal
- Apply the consider, acknowledge, use evidence, reinforce or renegotiate framework
- Explain their workload with evidence rather than just saying they are too busy
- Propose alternatives to a manager when a request cannot be accepted
Skills: Listening · Speaking · Vocabulary · Writing
Suits: Managers · Project managers · Team members
Language practised: Declining a request politely · Acknowledging a request · Giving reasons and evidence for a refusal · Reinforcing a position · Proposing alternatives · Renegotiating priorities · Asking questions about workload
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