Boundaries at Work
For many years in my career conversations about boundaries felt like something for the courageous, privileged, or foolish. Many of my early career opportunities took an inordinate amount of hard work to prove my values and worth for opportunities that were handed to others. The scrutiny that was placed on my work as well as my appearance and ability to make others comfortable, made it so that boundaries were so far from my mind that it felt like a long-term goal. It wasn’t until the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic that I realized, having boundaries would be a necessary part of my thriving and growth. With the space to slow down and consider what contributes to my productivity, creativity, and engagement at work, I was able to move closer toward a career where I more consistently make the impact that I want to make and get closer to my life-long goals. These are a few tips that I’ve cultivated in my career around establishing and maintaining boundaries at work.
Tips for Setting Workplace Boundaries
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Block out work time
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Communicate your needs
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Honor your you time
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Disconnect outside of work
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Process guilt and other emotions that come up while you are on PTO/offline time.
Tips for Supporting Healthy Boundaries as a Manager
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Lead with Vulnerability
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Ask ‘Can it be Async?’
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Designate meeting free times
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Opt for Scheduled Messages
Implementing boundaries and enforcing them in new ways can be a struggle, especially if others in your organization do not feel empowered to set and maintain boundaries with you. Learn how to embody your unique power and how to share that with others in your organization through coaching.