Earlier in my career, I learned that saying 'no' at work is often practicing a delayed 'yes'.

You’re not necessarily rejecting the idea; you’re accepting that the timing, resources, or information available might not be right (just yet). Next time, instead of saying a flat "no," try:

"This could slow us down. How about we test this on a smaller scale first?"

"We are making decisions using old data. Let's gather more feedback before we decide."

"It could make us look bad to clients. Let's touch base with all stakeholders to align this approach."

"This could attract the wrong audience. What if we refine this idea together?"

"It might get more expensive over time. How about we set up a meeting to explore other options?"

"The result might not justify the effort. What if we revisit this once we’ve completed our ongoing tasks?"

"This could bring risks we’re not ready for. What if we adjusted this plan to focus on a more achievable outcome?"

My point is:

It's better to view yes/no decisions as a spectrum rather than a clear-cut choice. A "no" can be a way towards "yes" until it can be executed with the highest chance of success.