What are the three steps in the SAY NO model for how to decline interpreting tasks?

What are the three steps in the SAY NO model for how to decline interpreting tasks?

• A. Offer 2-3 Choices; Be Gracious; Give Reasons
• B. Be Gracious; Offer 2-3 Choices; Give Reasons
• C. Give Reasons; Be Gracious; Offer 2-3 Choices
• D. Be Gracious; Give Reasons; Offer 2-3 Choices

Answer: (B)

The best sequence starts with courtesy, then offers alternatives, and finishes with the explanation. Being gracious first acknowledges the request and preserves the relationship, which makes the person feel respected rather than shut down. After that, presenting 2-3 concrete choices gives a practical path forward—these could be alternative interpreters, different times, or other ways the task could be handled—so you’re helping the requester move ahead rather than just saying no. Finally, sharing the reasons behind the decline or the need for alternatives provides transparency and context, helping the requester understand the constraints and accept the decision more easily. If you lead with reasons, or skip offering options, the interaction can feel rigid or unsupportive. If you jump straight to options without first showing courtesy, the tone can come off as transactional. This order—Be Gracious; Offer 2-3 Choices; Give Reasons—balances respect, usefulness, and clarity, making it the most constructive approach.

The best sequence starts with courtesy, then offers alternatives, and finishes with the explanation. Being gracious first acknowledges the request and preserves the relationship, which makes the person feel respected rather than shut down. After that, presenting 2-3 concrete choices gives a practical path forward—these could be alternative interpreters, different times, or other ways the task could be handled—so you’re helping the requester move ahead rather than just saying no. Finally, sharing the reasons behind the decline or the need for alternatives provides transparency and context, helping the requester understand the constraints and accept the decision more easily.

If you lead with reasons, or skip offering options, the interaction can feel rigid or unsupportive. If you jump straight to options without first showing courtesy, the tone can come off as transactional. This order—Be Gracious; Offer 2-3 Choices; Give Reasons—balances respect, usefulness, and clarity, making it the most constructive approach.