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Last updated on 2024年7月20日

You're facing constant messages from a colleague after work. How do you set boundaries effectively?

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Understanding the constant influx of messages from a colleague after work hours can be overwhelming. It's essential to maintain a healthy work-life balance, and that means setting clear boundaries regarding communication outside of office hours. You might feel pressured to respond immediately or worry about seeming uncooperative, but remember that your time outside work is yours. Effective communication skills play a crucial role in establishing and maintaining these boundaries without causing workplace friction or misunderstanding.

本文章的要点总结

Communicate your hours:

Clearly articulating your working hours sets the stage for when you're available. By sharing this with your colleague, you establish a natural boundary without confrontation.
Stick to your guns:

Consistency is key when reinforcing boundaries. If you don't respond to non-urgent after-hours messages, it becomes clear that you respect your own time, and others will too.

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Siya Bansal

DevOps Enthusiast | Git & GitHub | AWS…
Priti Menezes

Career Empowerment Advocate |…

1 Assess Intent

Before addressing the issue, it's important to understand why your colleague is reaching out after hours. They might not realize they're encroaching on your personal time or may have a different perception of work-life boundaries. Consider the content of the messages—is it urgent work that can't wait until the next day, or could it be a lack of planning on their part? Understanding their intent will guide you in crafting a response that is firm yet considerate, and it will help you tailor your approach to setting boundaries.

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Siya Bansal

DevOps Enthusiast | Git & GitHub | AWS | Linux | Docker | Kubernetes | Terraform | Ansible | Jenkins | Shell Scripting
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Setting boundaries with a colleague who messages you constantly after work can be handled respectfully: - tell them I prefer to keep work-related messages to business hours unless it's urgent. - Politely mention your usual work hours and availability for non-urgent matters.

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Taiwo Aishah Zakariyau

Business Development || Office Administration || Customer Support || BSc. Social Work | MSc. Medical Sociology, | HND Secretarial Studies
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I agree with seeking the why or rationale for the call. However, no matter what, except in dire situations, boundaries should be set for 'work' after work hours. On the other depending on the type and nature of work, boundaries on timeline for call could be set, for instance, after works calls should not go beyond 9pm. Intent and consideration for the content of the message that may likely be passed premised on the nature of work will influence greatly, the nature or type of boundaries to be set.

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Sofia Rocato Lopes

Junior Salesforce Analyst
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I believe that in this situation, it's very important to understand the context. If it's something very urgent or if the team as a whole is in a critical moment, it may be necessary to make some exceptions, as long as there are very well-established limits. However, it's crucial to make it clear that this is an exception, not the rule.

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2 Start Early

Setting boundaries should start as early as possible, preferably from the moment you notice the pattern of after-hours communication. Address the issue directly with your colleague by expressing your commitment to maintaining a work-life balance. You can acknowledge their dedication but also clarify the importance of respecting personal time. By dealing with the situation early on, you prevent the establishment of expectations that you are always available, which can be harder to change later.

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3 Be Clear

When you communicate your boundaries, clarity is key. You don't have to be confrontational, but you should be specific about what you are comfortable with. For instance, let your colleague know that you prefer not to receive work-related messages after a certain time unless it's an emergency. Define what constitutes an emergency so there's no ambiguity. Being clear and upfront will help your colleague understand your limits and reduce the likelihood of misunderstandings.

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Rhone D’Errico

Professional Speaker | Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner | Educator | Nurse.org Top Nurse Influencer to Follow on LinkedIn
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The key is to make sure this is approached in a win-win fashion. Does your colleague really feel they need to contact you at all hours? Likely not. More likely, they don’t have a clear picture on how to best manage communications, and that creates an “open loop” in their mind and they can’t relax until that loop is closed. The solution? Set clear obligations and expectations, on all sides, as to how communication will progress. One idea is to set office hours. Just like in academia, a professional can dedicate a number of hours per week where they can be contacted without any need for permission or preamble. “I’ll have a Zoom (or Teams, or Meet, or whichever) open from 1-2pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Drop in any time and we can talk!”

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4 Offer Alternatives

Once you've set your boundaries, it's helpful to provide alternative solutions. If your colleague needs to communicate with you outside of work hours, suggest scheduling an email for the next business day or using a shared document that can be reviewed during work hours. Offering alternatives shows that you're still committed to collaboration and teamwork, but within limits that respect your personal time.

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5 Stay Consistent

Consistency is crucial when enforcing boundaries. If you occasionally respond to non-urgent messages after hours, it sends mixed signals. Make sure to stick to the limits you've set, even if it feels uncomfortable at first. Your consistency will reinforce your boundaries over time, and your colleague will likely adjust their expectations accordingly. Remember, consistency in your actions communicates your boundaries more effectively than words alone.

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6 Review Regularly

Lastly, it's important to periodically review the effectiveness of the boundaries you've set. If your colleague continues to send messages after hours, a follow-up discussion may be necessary. This doesn't mean your initial attempt at setting boundaries failed; rather, it's an ongoing process of communication and adjustment. Regularly reviewing and reinforcing your boundaries will ensure they are respected in the long term.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Priti Menezes

Career Empowerment Advocate | Accredited Career Counselor | Sales Consultant (Digital Marketing) | Student Service Manager for Visa & Immigration | Seeking Full Time Opportunities in Ontario ????
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To set boundaries with a colleague who constantly messages after work, address the issue directly and respectfully. Communicate your need for personal time by stating your work hours clearly and expressing that you will respond to messages during those times. Suggest alternative communication methods for urgent matters, such as email or scheduled calls. Reinforce these boundaries by not responding to non-urgent messages outside of work hours. Consistency is key, so ensure you adhere to your stated limits. By setting clear boundaries, you maintain a healthy work-life balance and foster mutual respect with your colleague.

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You're facing constant messages from a colleague after work. How do you set boundaries effectively?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Assess Intent

2 Start Early

3 Be Clear

4 Offer Alternatives

5 Stay Consistent

6 Review Regularly

7 Here’s what else to consider

Communication

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You're facing constant messages from a colleague after work. How do you set boundaries effectively?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Assess Intent

2 Start Early

3 Be Clear

4 Offer Alternatives

5 Stay Consistent

6 Review Regularly

7 Here’s what else to consider

Communication

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感谢您的反馈

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