Q: What’s the best way to turn down a project (in this case, a book) which ideologically I don’t agree with at all? While I can say I don’t have the time do the project justice, or I don’t think I can make a meaningful contribution, I’d prefer to be honest. What words would you use to decline the project?
A: Most people would (understandably) sugarcoat things: “I’m not sure I’d be the best advocate for this project.” Or: “To be honest, I have some idealogical differences with the content of this book, so being its public face would be doing us both a disservice. I couldn’t put my entire heart behind it.”
On the other hand, since you strongly disagree with this person’s beliefs, why not come out and say that? For example: “Given our ideological differences, I can’t responsibly take on this project.” Why beat around the bush? Isn’t plain language better than euphemism?
