As a creator, you might feel pressured to please your audience and sponsors, but that can take a toll on your mental health and creativity. Setting boundaries is essential to avoid burnout and maintain your integrity. In this article, you'll learn how to set boundaries with your audience and sponsors in the context of the creator economy.
Boundaries are the limits you set for yourself and others in terms of what you are willing to do, accept, or tolerate. Boundaries help you protect your time, energy, and values, as well as respect those of others. In the creator economy, boundaries are especially important because you are often exposed to feedback, requests, and expectations from your audience and sponsors, which can be overwhelming, distracting, or conflicting.
Here are 3 key steps to establishing and keeping your own boundaries: 1) Set them! - Take time mentally to self reflect. Know what you’ll stand for and what you won’t in your line of work with your audience and sponsors. 2) Establish a voice - Within your content, stick to a certain scope of expertise and style of communication. When your content is dialed in, it helps keep your audience and sponsor focused on the areas you want to talk about. 3) Have options - Give yourself options for what to do when you encounter people, feedback, and requests, that try to push those boundaries and limits. Having them in place ahead of time will help you keep your boundaries in place.
I’m actually trying to understand the relevance of this article — a good speaker or facilitator has a firm control of the audience, sets the agenda and what the audience interactions will look like. Setting boundaries indicates that this is not the case and that the audience is somehow in control of the interaction. You create a misnomer with regards to the stated and assumed relationship between the audience and speaker by suggesting that boundaries need to be set. This is not an ongoing relationship but rather a transactional experience. You as the speaker have the power to own the stage and the audience is there to follow your lead.
Your audience is essential for your creator career, but that doesn't mean you have to comply with every request or demand. You can set boundaries with your audience by communicating clearly and consistently about your content, schedule, and goals. Create a community policy to outline the rules for interacting with you and other members, and enforce it when necessary. Don't be afraid to say no to requests or suggestions that don't align with your vision, values, or capacity. Additionally, take breaks and unplug from social media when needed. Establish some time for yourself and your loved ones without feeling the need to respond to every comment or message.
The audience is not essential — again, this is a mis-statement. You should come to the stage fully formed — the creativity takes place well before you hit the stage nit while you are in the stage.
Two important facets of setting boundaries are: Sticking to the principles that have helped you establish credibility with both your audiences and sponsors. If you deviate from these principles, it's clear that a boundary is being crossed, and recalibration is in order. Learning to say no is an art that should be part of your toolkit. If you find yourself inclined or pressured to fulfill every single wish, request, feedback, or commitment, it's important to carefully consider each commitment or promise you make. If you have doubts now, chances are regrets may soon follow. Align your priorities and take a moment to say yes more deliberately.
Your sponsors are the partners who support your creator career financially, but that doesn't mean you have to compromise your integrity or creativity. You can set boundaries with your sponsors by choosing those who share your values, vision, and niche, negotiating contracts that specify the terms and conditions of the sponsorship, declining offers or opportunities that don't fit your goals, interests, or standards, and providing honest and authentic reviews or recommendations of the sponsored products or services. Remember to never sign anything you are not comfortable with or agree to anything you can't deliver, and do not lie or exaggerate to please your sponsors or mislead your audience.
Brands and sponsors are partners, not your makers. Remember that your content came from YOUR ideas. People chose you, audiences choose to see you. Sponsors want to be a part of your ecosystem. Let them in but be clear with your goals and values. Don’t lose focus, be clear and honest with yourself and your content.
Maintaining boundaries is tough, especially when you face challenges such as guilt, fear, or backlash. To overcome these obstacles, remind yourself of why you set your boundaries in the first place and how they benefit your well-being, creativity, and career. Additionally, seek support from other creators who understand your struggles and can offer advice. Joining online or offline communities that cater to creators like you can be a great help. Furthermore, review and adjust your boundaries as needed. Your boundaries can change over time depending on your circumstances, goals, and preferences. Lastly, celebrate your achievements and reward yourself for sticking to your boundaries. Recognize your progress and treat yourself to something you enjoy. Setting boundaries with your audience and sponsors is not easy but with these tips, you can create a healthy and sustainable creator career that respects your needs and values.