Stick with It: Mastering the Art of Adherence

8Know When to Say No

Winning teams are both clear and passionate about their one thing. This powerful combination creates leadership courage, and this enables leaders to make difficult decisions for their teams such as swiftly channeling resources away from noncritical areas. Having the conviction to say no when necessary is a key differentiator between those who adhere to their plans and those who don’t. Winners say no at two distinct levels: strategy and tactics.

Strategically, winning organizations follow the same principle advocated by management guru Peter Drucker who said, “If you want to grow your business, before you decide where and how to grow, the first thing you need to do is stop doing what’s not working and get rid of the outgrown, ...