When leading a team, balancing trust and boundaries is key to success. I trust my team to take ownership of their work, giving them the space to be creative and make decisions. At the same time, I set clear expectations and boundaries to ensure everyone is aligned on goals and responsibilities. Regular check-ins help me stay in the loop without micromanaging, allowing me to provide support where it’s needed. Open communication is essential, so I encourage transparency and feedback both ways. By creating an environment of trust while maintaining structure, I can help my team thrive and succeed together.

Maintaining trust while setting boundaries is crucial to leading effectively. Here are a few strategies I use to strike the right balance: Set Clear Expectations Early: I find that establishing expectations from the start—whether around performance, communication, or decision-making—builds trust by creating transparency. It ensures everyone knows where they stand and what’s expected, leaving less room for misunderstandings. Respect Boundaries by Example: I model work-life balance by respecting my own boundaries, like avoiding emails after hours or taking time for self-care. When the team sees me doing this, it reinforces the importance of boundaries and gives them permission to maintain their own.

I'd love to borrow from Brené Brown to say, "clear is kind". Providing clarity about the current state is essential. You then engage others in the collaborative solutions. Your job as a leader is not to be perfect & have all the solutions. Your job is to lead with humanity towards co-created progress, crafting a vision, building alignment, & then ensuring execution to achieve that vision. Speak from the heart when sharing the vision, gaining input & buy-in. You can also let your human show by sharing struggles & inviting others to support, & then others will feel empowered to do the same, with a strong leader acting as a role model.

Establish Clear Expectations: Clearly define roles, responsibilities, and boundaries to create a foundation of trust. Promote Open Communication: Encourage team members to express their thoughts and concerns while respecting established boundaries. Lead by Example: Demonstrate trust by being reliable and transparent, while also respecting others' boundaries. Foster Collaboration: Create opportunities for teamwork, emphasizing mutual respect and trust in each other’s abilities. Provide Support: Be available to help team members while allowing them space to make decisions independently. Reinforce Boundaries: Regularly check in to ensure boundaries are respected and adjust as necessary to maintain trust and collaboration.