Mastering the art of saying 'no' doesn't equate to a rejection of collaboration, but rather communicates one's entitlement to decline unreasonable requests. It's crucial to always offer a reasoned explanation, which serves to shield oneself and preserve healthy work relations. For instance, should a coworker solicit you to undertake a task obviously beyond your capacity in terms of time, a courteous response might be: 'I'd be glad to assist, but my current schedule is rather full. Maybe we can reevaluate the priorities?'