The first African-American president of an aviation brand. A cancer survivor. A mother. An award-winning leadership speaker and sales coach. There is simply no one quite like Stephanie Chung, Chief Growth Officer of Wheels Up, and former CEO of JetSuite. As a business leader with over 30 years of experience catalyzing transformative growth in the aviation sector, she has empowered her teams to reach new heights. Now Stephanie is taking the insights that have led to her success and sharing them with leaders around the world.
With a blend of cutting-edge science, proven leadership strategies, personal stories, and her trademark sense of humor, we’re excited to welcome Stephanie Chung to The Global Leadership Summit stage in August 2022! Get Tickets >>
Until then, enjoy a preview of her helpful insights and tips on how to say no, and discover how to focus on what’s important to you and your values.
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How to Say No
Have you ever found there are times when you are just overwhelmed and stressed out because you’re overextended? Because at the end of the day you’re doing way too many things and a lot of those things you don’t actually want to do—because you don’t know how to say no?
“No”—though it’s two simple letters, sometimes it’s a really difficult word to say.
This is a message for the people pleasers. I’ve been there. There are times when people will want us to do this, that, and the other. And before you know it, we’re over committed, overstressed, and we are regretting the whole time we’re doing it because we didn’t want to do it in the first place.
I’ve learned very quickly I’m allowed to say no, gracefully, and without guilt.
I’ve learned very quickly I’m allowed to say no, gracefully, and without guilt.
When someone asked me, Steph, could you do this, or can you participate in this? Or can we sign you up for that?
What I say is:
-
- “Thank you so much for thinking of me. Unfortunately, I’m not going be able to participate, but I appreciate you thinking of me nevertheless.”
- “Wow. Thank you. I can’t do it but thank you so much for thinking of me.”
I don’t then give them a whole lot of other things. For example…
-
- What I don’t say is:
- “Let me think about it.”
- “Maybe check back with me.”
- “Maybe I’ll get back to you.”
I don’t do all that because the reality is, if you don’t want to do it today, you probably don’t want to do it tomorrow. So, why prolong the inevitable? Just say it and don’t feel guilty about it. Your priorities are really important. I’m focused on always doing first things first.
If you don’t want to do it today, you probably don’t want to do it tomorrow.
When you struggle with saying no, play around with those words, marinate on them, make them your own, but be OK with learning how to say “no.” You’re smarter than you think, and cooler than they ever told you.
Want to grow in your leadership? Hear more from Stephanie Chung on August 4-5, 2022, at The Global Leadership Summit. Get Tickets >>
The Global Leadership Summit
GLN Staff Writer | Globalleadership.org/SummitStephanie Chung
Chief Growth Officer | Wheels UpHow to Say No—GLS22 Faculty Spotlight
Published May 19, 2022TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE
Decision-MakingExecutionLeading YourselfWomen LeadersWomen Leaders - Leading YourselfThe first African-American president of an aviation brand. A cancer survivor. A mother. An award-winning leadership speaker and sales coach. There is simply no one quite like Stephanie Chung, Chief Growth Officer of Wheels Up, and former CEO of JetSuite. As a business leader with over 30 years of experience catalyzing transformative growth in the aviation sector, she has empowered her teams to reach new heights. Now Stephanie is taking the insights that have led to her success and sharing them with leaders around the world.
With a blend of cutting-edge science, proven leadership strategies, personal stories, and her trademark sense of humor, we’re excited to welcome Stephanie Chung to The Global Leadership Summit stage in August 2022! Get Tickets >>
Until then, enjoy a preview of her helpful insights and tips on how to say no, and discover how to focus on what’s important to you and your values.
How to Say No
Have you ever found there are times when you are just overwhelmed and stressed out because you’re overextended? Because at the end of the day you’re doing way too many things and a lot of those things you don’t actually want to do—because you don’t know how to say no?
“No”—though it’s two simple letters, sometimes it’s a really difficult word to say.
This is a message for the people pleasers. I’ve been there. There are times when people will want us to do this, that, and the other. And before you know it, we’re over committed, overstressed, and we are regretting the whole time we’re doing it because we didn’t want to do it in the first place.
I’ve learned very quickly I’m allowed to say no, gracefully, and without guilt.
When someone asked me, Steph, could you do this, or can you participate in this? Or can we sign you up for that?
What I say is:
I don’t then give them a whole lot of other things. For example…
I don’t do all that because the reality is, if you don’t want to do it today, you probably don’t want to do it tomorrow. So, why prolong the inevitable? Just say it and don’t feel guilty about it. Your priorities are really important. I’m focused on always doing first things first.
When you struggle with saying no, play around with those words, marinate on them, make them your own, but be OK with learning how to say “no.” You’re smarter than you think, and cooler than they ever told you.
Want to grow in your leadership? Hear more from Stephanie Chung on August 4-5, 2022, at The Global Leadership Summit. Get Tickets >>
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About the Author
The Global Leadership Summit
GLN Staff Writer
The Global Leadership Summit (GLS) is a two-day infusion of actionable leadership insights and inspiration broadcast to hundreds of host sites across the United States every August. In the following months, the GLS is translated, contextualized and hosted by local leadership committees at hundreds of locations across Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East. This global event convenes a world-class faculty who share their distinct perspectives and expertise, inspiring and equipping people around the world with practical leadership skills that can be applied within their context, wherever they have influence, and used to empower positive transformation where it’s needed most. Attracting an audience that represents various industries, including marketplace, non-profit, healthcare, education, government, ministry and corrections, the GLS has become a unique platform, unlike any other, bringing people together to not only empower better leadership within the organizations they represent, but in a growing number of cases around the world, this event also acts as a catalyst for organic local movements initiating systemic, city-wide change. What started as a single event back in 1990’s, the GLS has grown to attract tens of thousands of people today.
Stephanie Chung
Chief Growth Officer
With over 30 years of experience catalyzing transformative growth in the aviation sector, Stephanie Chung has widely been recognized as a trailblazer. She was the first African-American president of a major private aviation company when she took the helm as President of JetSuite. During her tenure at JetSuite, Chung repositioned the brand from a commodity service to a luxury customer experience, upgrading the fleet, and elevating the client experience. Under her leadership, JetSuite was voted one of the Best Places To Work by the Human Rights Campaign. Chung also served as VP of Sales for Flexjet where she oversaw a sales organization and strategic deal team that together generated over $835 million in revenue. Prior, she held influential roles at US Airways (now operating as American Airlines), Delta Air Lines, and Bombardier. In 2020, Chung joined Wheels Up, the leading brand in private aviation, as the company’s first Chief Growth Officer. Chung also serves as a member of c200, a community of the most successful women in business, as well as on the Advisory Council of the National Business Aviation Association and the Advisory Board of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. Her personal achievements have been recognized in D CEO Magazine's Top 500 and inclusion in the Ebony Power 100. She has also been named as one of “2021 Top Women in Travel & Hospitality” by Women Leading Travel & Hospitality.