Nobody likes to go back on his or her word, but you may need to step back and make room for opportunities that best align with what you want to do or achieve. While it isn’t going to be easy, you need to be honest both with yourself and with the person you’ve agreed to work with. Step up and be transparent about your inability to finish the job or commit to the engagement. To help you out, here’s a short and simple step-by-step guide you can tweak to best communicate how you need to cancel your agreement in a polite and professional manner.
4 steps to back out of a commitment gracefully
1. Acknowledge that you’ve agreed to commit to the request.
(“I know that I offered to take on this project 2 months ago…”)
2. Apologize and explain that you have to cancel the commitment.
(“…but things have changed since then and I feel I may not have the time to give your project my 100%. My sincere apologies for this.”)
3. Offer a solution or alternative.
(“I don’t want to leave you hanging, so I can recommend a few people who have the skills to handle your project. I can also . . .”)
4. Be open to questions, concerns, and positive or negative feedback.
(“If you have questions or concerns, I’m free and willing to listen.”)
An easier way to say no to scope creep
Saying no is tough, especially when expectations are high!