Trust the people who tell you where they stand, even when it’s not where you hoped.

Clarity is worth more than agreement. Somebody who tells you plainly that they are not coming, not interested or not on your side has given you something you can plan around, while the person who keeps everything warm and vague is pleasant company and useless to rely on. A straight answer stings for an afternoon. Being managed costs you months.

Start treating straightforwardness as what you look for in people rather than enthusiasm. Then be that: answer one question this week without softening it into a maybe. People who know where you stand will put you on the list of people they count on.