Not every meeting needs your body in a chair. The professional move is not a blunt no. It is clarifying the decision, offering the input and protecting the outcome.
Use this three-part response
- Name the conflict or focus you are protecting.
- Offer the information you can provide asynchronously.
- Ask to be pulled in only if a specific decision requires you.
Try the plain version
'I am protecting time for the launch plan during that hour. I can send my recommendation beforehand. If the group needs a decision from me, please tag me and I will join for that portion.'
If the meeting matters for trust, development or a sensitive decision, attend. The point is better judgment, not avoiding people.