> "How do you consistently say no without appearing oppositional?" A flat "no" comes across as oppositional. On the other hand, "Well, that depends..." follow

> "How do you consistently say no without appearing oppositional?" A flat "no" comes across as oppositional. On the other hand, "Well, that depends..." followed by an analysis of options and possible roadblocks (this is where the "no" is subtly injected), that's construed as thoughtful and methodical. I would even venture to say that "It depends" is the only correct answer for an engineer to give to any question.