About the Episode
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About the Episode:
In this episode of Mission Admissions, host Jeremy Tiers talks with Kate Speer about the art and science of saying “no”, and the importance of setting boundaries. Packed with actionable tips, relatable stories, and real-world examples, this episode offers student success strategies you can apply in any higher ed or leadership role.
Key Takeaways
- Why saying “no” is essential — and how it directly impacts your long-term student success strategies.
- The connection between overcommitment, burnout, and stagnation in higher education roles.
- How to self-reflect and identify whether your “yes” decisions align with your big-picture goals.
- Language templates for turning down requests while preserving relationships.
- Strategies for navigating “no” conversations with senior leadership in a professional, solutions-oriented way.
- Warning signs that you’re overextended — and how to recognize them before you hit burnout.
Episode Summary
Why Is It So Hard to Say “No” in Higher Ed?
Many professionals in higher education — especially those driven to help and make an impact — struggle to turn down requests. Kate Speer explains that this often stems from early conditioning in school, where saying “no” simply wasn’t an option. Once in the workforce, that mindset carries over, making it difficult to push back even when workload and priorities demand it. The problem? Always saying “yes” can lead to doing a lot without actually moving the needle on your most important objectives.
Jeremy and Kate explore how this dynamic is particularly challenging in higher ed roles that already demand multitasking and quick responsiveness. Add in a desire to be seen as a team player, and it’s easy to find yourself drowning in commitments that don’t align with your core goals.
Recognizing the Warning Signs of Overcommitment
Kate shares her own turning point: preparing an end-of-year report for her CEO and realizing that, while she had been incredibly busy, she hadn’t made enough progress on the initiatives that mattered most. The takeaway? Busyness doesn’t equal progress — and without intentional self-reflection, it’s easy to drift away from what really drives success.
She outlines common red flags, including feeling constantly overwhelmed, becoming short or irritable over small requests, and losing sight of whether daily tasks connect to your long-term vision. For those in enrollment or student success roles, this can mean missing out on high-impact projects that actually improve outcomes for students.
Building a Framework for Saying “No”
The heart of the episode lies in Kate’s practical student success strategies for setting boundaries:
- Pause before responding to requests and check them against your short- and long-term goals.
- Lead with gratitude — thanking the person for thinking of you before declining.
- Explain the “why” without making the requestor feel their ask is unimportant.
- Offer alternatives — such as recommending another colleague who may be a better fit.
For situations involving senior leadership, Kate emphasizes coming prepared with a prioritized list of current commitments, along with possible solutions. Rather than framing the conversation as “I’m overwhelmed,” she recommends approaching it as “Here’s the work on my plate — how can we best align it to our strategic goals?”
Connect With Our Host:
Jeremy Tiers
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