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If
you’re a senior at your company and you find yourself in a sticky situation
where a former employee rings up to ask her for a letter of recommendation. You
don’t want to do this, but you tell them you’ll get back to them.
Now,
this employee had been pretty unpopular at the firm and was known for “for the
sake of this conversation, let’s say” having a bad temper that came with
tantrums when things didn’t go their way. It bears the question, how, in good
conscience, do you write a letter of reference for someone you actually do not
approve of.
The
art of declination or Saying “No” is in reality a skill that many people don’t
have. But, when you think about it, it is one life’s important skill, it helps
one to minimize the stressful situations and increase your productivity rate.
As
many people do. One will often agonize with regards to saying “No” to the next
person thus getting pressured into doing things they really don’t want to see
themselves do. The reality is that, declining someone isn’t as hard as you
might think it is. If you say to somebody “no, thank you.” assertively and
clearly, chances are you would more than likely gain their respect rather than
lose it.
After
all you are never obligation to write someone a recommendation letter.
In this article we provide you with a form to politely
and diplomatically decline such request without offending the person asking for
it. The best approach is to do decline the other party without making your
refusal sound like a personal criticism or a professional rejection.
There
form can be used to provide many suitable excuses, for example:
In
a situation where not really acquainted with the individual…
With
the form you able to advise them that the best recommendations come from people
who value your character and work skills. Easily and effectively communicate
that it is in no one’s best interest for you to endorse someone you can’t speak
genuinely about or someone you don’t intimately know.
If
the individual insists on pursuing the matter (because some will), using the
same letter and a little bit of nipping and tucking, intelligently explain that
you not feeling comfortable about writing them recommendation as your integrity
and professionalism as a brand is on the line with each recommendation you
make.
Top
Tip: Use “I” statements rather than “you”- “I feel that we are not adequately
acquainted…” instead of “You haven’t made a good impression on me.”
Some
seniors in companies will give negative references without considering how it
will impact the individual, professionally or psychologically. It’s better not
to give a recommendation at all rather than a vague or a negative one.
Steve
Jobs is quoted as saying - “Innovation is saying “no” to one thousand things.”
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Letter of Recommendation
A
letter of recommendation in which a writer (usually a person in a supervisory
role) evaluates the skills, work habits, and achievements of an individual
applying for a employment, for admission to graduate school, or for some other
professional position. Also called a letter of reference.
When
requesting a letter of recommendation (from a former professor or supervisor,
for instance), you should (a) clearly identify the deadline for submitting the
letter and provide adequate notice, and (b) offer your reference with specific data
regarding the position being applied for.
