[Helen_nz2]

My Manager gets so many people wanting meetings with him. One tries to be nice in saying no but it never feels comfortable. Does anyone have any tips for me, generally it's via email that I get these requests.

[badgergirl]

Thank them for their interest. Tell them you will get back with them if this is something that your manager is able to or wants to pursue.

[Robert Ball]

I would be careful not to simply send them away. As a manager, you want/need to hear and meet about what is relevant - the real issue is that you don't want your time wasted. To elaborate on what Badgergirl said, I'd ask them to specify what they want to meet about, why your manager's input is needed, what the agenda will be, how much time they need, etc. For the time waster, this may well prompt them to say "never mind"; for your manager, it will give him/her a way to say yes or no based on the merits of the request (or at least for you to put them off), send them to someone else, or tell them to figure it out on their own. Hope that helps

[Helen_nz2]

generally I ask them to send me an email outlining the purpose of the meeting. It's when I want to get back to them to tell them the manager doesn't want to meet with them that I'm wondering what to say because you don't want to slam the door. There may not be a need right now but you never know, there may be one in the future. However you need to be firm so that they don't continue to pester you

[Robert Ball]

Ah, I see. Agree on the need to be firm and direct. Too often "sugar coating it", as we say over here, misfires. I know when I'm on the receiving end I prefer candor. Hope that helps.