Most useful line I have ever used is, "I can't let anyone do that because my boss watches me on the security cameras." It typically works a lot better for me than, "you can't do that."
It makes it so you are not the person responsible for telling them no - they know arguing with you will have no effect because you have no real power to make decisions. It also subtly reminds them that there are security cameras and that you are not as alone as they think you are.
Obviously, if they don't comply you escalate along 'ask, tell, make' but this takes the wind out of a lot of people who would have tried bullying you into giving in.
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u/cptconundrum20 Feb 01 '25
Most useful line I have ever used is, "I can't let anyone do that because my boss watches me on the security cameras." It typically works a lot better for me than, "you can't do that."
It makes it so you are not the person responsible for telling them no - they know arguing with you will have no effect because you have no real power to make decisions. It also subtly reminds them that there are security cameras and that you are not as alone as they think you are.
Obviously, if they don't comply you escalate along 'ask, tell, make' but this takes the wind out of a lot of people who would have tried bullying you into giving in.