I became a freelancer back in 2006.. I had no clue what I was getting into, just that I had a few leads who were willing to give me projects. It’s been over a decade and i have grown as a person and as a freelancer and as a writer. Have infact reached a point where I have the confidence to now pick the projects I want to work on and say no to projects that don’t fit the bill. This is also because I know now that I have clients who are going to be with me for another year at least, the money I am making is good [ covers my expenses & then some more] plus I need some spare time for LIFE [reading, travel, going out, time with my partner & other hobbies]
I know that a lot of people have the fear of ‘what if I don’t get another project’, ‘can I really afford to turn down a project’ or ‘should I just take it on and then stretch myself to ensure I deliver’..
In this post I want to share a few pointers on situations where you can actually turn down project requests and how to say no to people who approach you..
Hopefully it helps. Do let me know what your approach is..
For most of us freelancers, more work means more money, but at times, it also means putting in more hours and investing that much more energy! Sometimes, we just don’t want to take on additional work, and it could be for any number of reasons,
You are busy: Don’t want to overload your plate & stretch yourself beyond limits. It is perfectly acceptable to decline a project saying you don’t have the bandwidth to take on more at the moment. You can offer to help the client find someone else if you have a network of people or just leave it at it.
Money doesn’t make sense: While the new project might sound exciting, the money offered doesn’t make sense when compared to the effort/time you have to put in. Or the rates could be very low. Be upfront and tell them your charges and see if they are open to negotiation to meet you at least 75-80% of the way. Don’t go below your standards, cos the work will be demanding and just have you stressing out. That said, it also makes sense to have 2-3 good paying projects than 5 small ones, but hey its upto you to see what works for you & take a call..
The request does not interest you: The area or genre could be something that doesn’t interest you or unfamiliar. Many a times, we might get request from people who are in a specific space and looking for experts in that arena. As freelancers, we do adapt, learn/research and equip ourselves across industries/verticals but some spaces might just be out of our realm. Tell them you don’t have experience in that area & don’t want to test waters now.
The Client has a bad reputation: It could just be that the client has a reputation for being too demanding/micro managing, or not paying on time or causing issues when it comes to payment. You need to tread carefully with such clients cos they won’t accept direct rejections [most times]. You might have to just cook up another excuse to turn down their request.
Just not in the mood: Oh yes, this happens! Sometimes you have a few projects on hand and don’t wish to take on more, even if you have a couple of hours in a day or can take on more work. It is completely upto you to take that call and just stick to your guns. In such cases, it is good to just tell the client you are not taking on new projects and tell them you will connect once you get some spare time.
Decline but be polite –
Now that you have decided to decline the project request, it is time to figure out how to do it. The important thing to remember is to “be polite” and not sound condescending or burn any bridges along the way. As a freelancer, it is crucial to maintain relationships cos you never know when you might have to reach out to the person for inputs or work.
When you’ve decided to say “no thank you,” make it clear that you’re declining while keeping the atmosphere light and productive (unless they have said something nasty or offended you).
First and foremost, start by expressing gratitude for the opportunity. Thank them for taking the time to consider you, and for anything else they did for you. Hiring freelancers or consultants takes time and effort on their part.
Next up, it is crucial you get the point across clearly through the message/email. Do not beat around the bush. Right after expressing gratitude, tell them you will NOT be able this project on along with the reason for the same. You don’t have to explain your reasons, and don’t keep going on and on apologising etc..
If you think it’s acceptable, after you’ve answered no, you could suggest some next actions or alternatives. Let them know if you’re interested in talking about future projects. Be specific about the circumstances in which you are more likely to say yes, such as after a certain date or if they require your skills in a different area. This is also where you suggest connecting them to other freelancers you know or offer resources/sites where they could find someone..
However, if you are unsure of declining a project and want to mull over it or discuss with a friend, tell the client you need <x> days to think it over and shall come back with a decision. Do make sure to have all the details you need before buying time – ask for project details, time, money, brief, etc…
Alright, work beckons! Am off to complete the to-do list for the day…. Oh and I actually turned down a request this morning. Why? Cos I feel I have enough on my plate and am content doing what I am doing, not keen on taking on too much…
