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Saying No Well: How Pushing Back Can Move Your Team Forward

As a Tech Leader, you’re expected to deliver, support your team, and respond to stakeholders — often all at once. But if everything is a yes, your priorities disappear. This interactive workshop gives you the practical skills to say “no” with clarity, confidence, and respect. You’ll learn how to use William Ury’s Positive No framework to assert boundaries without damaging relationships — whether you're pushing back on a teammate’s last-minute request, a product manager’s scope creep, or a VP’s unrealistic timeline.

You’ll also practice two key FLOW skills that make it easier to say no when the pressure’s on: how to Let It Go—releasing guilt, fear, or the urge to over-explain—and how to Focus with Breath to stay calm and grounded before high-stakes conversations. Through real-world scenarios and hands-on practice, you’ll walk away with language you can use immediately—and the confidence to say no in a way that protects your time, clarifies priorities, and actually helps your team succeed.


About Hunter Milligan

Hunter has worked and consulted at Fortune 500 companies and experienced the full spectrum of challenges in software development. As a longtime developer turned manager, he’s navigated the high-stress chaos of tight deadlines, shifting priorities, and working with diverse personalities.

For the past 15+ years, Hunter has been coaching teams and individuals to not only survive—but actually thrive. His secret sauce? A practical framework called FLOW, made up of four simple, repeatable skills that help professionals let go of mental clutter, respond with clarity, and get more done with less stress.

Designed for analytical minds and fast-moving environments, FLOW helps developers and leaders find steadiness in the chaos, stay focused under pressure, and—yes—breathe a little easier along the way. After all, the code may be complicated, but navigating work and life doesn’t have to be.

When not traveling the states or the rest of the world, Hunter enjoys mountain biking, snowboarding, and practicing tai chi—often in unexpected places.

More About Hunter »

ARE YOU READY TO GET STARTED?

Two and a half days of insightful sessions, inspiring ideas, and meeting your peers. Learn the skills and methods that will take your organization to the next level.

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