Sometimes we don’t want to accept or reject a proposal because we have too many things on our hands. Someone is sitting in front of you trying to push their proposal. But you are not in a mood to say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ without giving due consideration to the pros and cons of the proposal.
You are in a situation where you don’t want to brush away the proposal and at the same time you are in no position make a decision right away. You are in a dilemma. So, what do you do in such a situation? The answer is quite simple—delay your decision.
Many of us are unable to put off the proposal for sometime to gain some time because we do not have the right kind of words to respond to a situation where we want to take a decision in the matter at a later date or later point in time.
I am trying to put together a set of one-liners and phrases with which you may be able to bail yourself out of such sticky situations. Here goes:
1. You have dropped in unannounced. I don’t have a time slot to discuss your proposal in detail. Maybe you could drop in another day with a prior appointment?
2. This is rather complicated. I may need some time to decide on that.
3. I would like to consider how your proposal will benefit our organisation. At the same time, I have to consider the financial aspects of your proposal. I will need to consult the finance department to see if we can make such a heavy investment at this point of time.
4. Considering the fact that we are approaching the end of the fiscal year, we are a little cash strapped for your proposal. You may like to pay us a visit in the next financial year with your proposal?
5. I am in no position to make a firm commitment right now.
6. Before I say ‘Yes,’ I would like to study the proposal in greater detail.
7. It is a ‘No’ for now. I will get back to you if I change my mind.
8. Thank you for your confidence in me. But I am in no position to help you with that.
9. That looks like a good idea, but I am unable to consider that for now.
10. I could take a look at it some other time. As of now, it is not on my priority list.
11. I’m booked for now, maybe some other time?
12. Gimme some time.
13. Let me think about it.
14. I’ll get back to you on this.
15. I’m sorry. But this will have to wait for some time.
I picked some of these from here and there. And, I have coined in half-a-dozen of these retorts myself. If you spend time on this and work on this, you may be able discover new phrases on your own. I think you should take this as a starting point and develop your own phrases that suit your outlook as well as the specific situations you find yourself in.
