When to Say Yes (or No) to a Professional Opportunity

The question of when to say yes to a professional opportunity is an important one and one that I have thought about many times. When something comes across my path, such as a committee, board position or maybe even a job, I can think of 101 reasons to say yes. One of my values is to contribute, which makes me vulnerable to saying yes way too often. If I see a need, a challenge or an opportunity to improve something, my mind starts spinning about all the ways I might be able to help. 
The reality is that it is impossible to do everything. And not everything that comes upon your path is a right fit for your career and leadership development. So how do you decide?

In general, there’s no sure fire way to know which decisions are going to be the right ones. In many ways its gauging how a potential role makes you feel. Do you get excited? Feel energized? Or does the thought develop into a pit in your stomach? These feelings might be driven by instinct or gut reaction. One of my guests on The Travel Leader Leah Murphy once said, “if its not a full body yes, then it’s a no.

It’s not always easy to judge our instincts without more specific reflection. If you are in the process of choosing what’s right for you, it might be helpful to test your instincts with specific questions related to what’s most important to you.

Network and Relationships:  Does the opportunity connect you directly to a network of people that can help you advance your career or business? Is the opportunity related to your industry or target audience? Can the people involved make decisions or influence decisions related to your career or introduce you to the right people?

Goal Alignment: Is the opportunity a stepping stone to achieve a specific goal? Does the opportunity directly correlate to the achievement of that goal. 
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Personal Brand and Reputation: Does the opportunity intentionally advance your personal brand or reputation? Is the subject matter related to your area of expertise or an area you want to become known for?

Skills and Expertise: Does the opportunity help you develop a skill or expertise in your area of interest? If you are developing leadership skills, for example, board roles can help develop skills like strategy, finance, collaboration and relationship building.

Inspiration, Values and Purpose: Does the opportunity inspire you, speak to your personal values and/or life purpose? Does it give you feelings around integrity, meaning and fulfillment?

When to say no…

1. Your gut reaction when answering the questions above is not leaning in the affirmative
2. It just feels nice to be asked without any other compelling reason to say yes
3. It feels like an obligation or a “should”
4. Negatively impacts your personal well-being in an unsustainable way
5. The opportunity has a toxic culture, members feel not valued, or its plagued by continuous failure

In the end, making the right choice is about trusting yourself and being intentional. When an opportunity arises, take a moment to pause and reflect, using the guiding questions to determine if it truly aligns with your goals, values, and long-term aspirations. Not every opportunity is meant for you, and that's okay. Saying "no" when it’s not the right fit is just as important as saying "yes" when it is. By making decisions grounded in purpose and clarity, you’ll create space for the opportunities that truly matter, moving you forward with integrity and confidence.