Boundaries and the Perfect Relationship

There is no denying that in the past year, the lines between work and home life have blurred to invisible. I myself will often work at non-traditional hours, and yes, it is really hard to switch off when the office has become the terrace, the dining table, or the corner desk – with accompanying cats, distractions and the all too familiar comforts of your own home.

As a business owner, the pressures are the same as they ever were, but after difficult periods, we must make a stand for healthy boundaries in a working scenario that we will see no real change from in the near future at least.

I took the step recently to send my clients and collaborators an email that sets out terms for working with TishTash. We are a team of nearly 30 people now, and whilst that is something I am proud of from a business point of view, I also have a natural obligation to ensure that my staff are happy in their day to day roles, healthy, both physically and mentally and working at their own optimum levels to be able to deliver the service that we are known for, and proud to offer.

No healthy relationship comes from a place of ‘Master and Servant’ and whilst our clients and the business space as a national whole are all going through the exact same challenges as mine, we know categorically that the best results come from a place of collaboration and mutual respect – the client/agency relationship must have both to generate the best possible results.

If you or your staff are feeling the ‘blurred lines’ more critically at the moment, and are eager to re-establish boundaries with customers, clients, suppliers and more – here is what I laid out specifically in my missive, and it might be time for you to do the same.

WORKING HOURS:

Of course, we recognise that ours is not a 9-5 industry, we must all accept that it should not be a 24/7 one either. Just like I don’t expect a client to respond, unless in case of crisis, beyond 6pm, it’s important that they do not expect us to either. I may choose to send an email over the weekend or late at night, but I do not insist that you read it or respond. The same goes for our business too.

THE PAPER TRAIL:

We fully understand that there are more popular forms of electronic communications that are more widely used, but we really need to set some formal boundaries regarding where we send and receive information. Email please! It’s in one place, it provides an audit trail, and it keeps everything smooth, and importantly accountable for approvals, and important points – this as a recap to any verbal discussions or Whatsapp points made.

THE PROMISE:

Our team will reply to your email, even to acknowledge your email, within 24 hours (on working days).  

Whatsapp Groups – Most useful for social media account management. I ask when possible to minimise Whatsapp outside of core working hours. 

We ask where possible for 48-hour notice for meetings. Currently, we are requesting as many remain virtual to protect our team too. 

Our usual turn around time for writing press releases/content is 2-3 business days, unless agreed as urgent between both parties. The same applies for new creative/other requests. 

As an agency we are only as good as we are enabled to be, so we ask for clients’ timely approval on all requests, that correct images are supplied and products are delivered when we need them. If we have all from the client’s side, then we’ll deliver all promised from our side.

If a main day-to-day contact is on leave, clients will be clearly assigned cover and we ask that they refrain from contacting team members on leave. 

AND PLEASE PAY!

As well as a reminder of key and urgent contact numbers and personnel, I also ended the email with a request for timely payment, as agreed when contracted. Managing the so often non 9-5 in a post Covid world, and then not getting paid for work delivered? – well, that’s one relationship that is never going to end well.

Communication – it’s our business, and it’s what makes business go smoothly. Set your stall out – boundary setting lies with you, and having them is not a luxury, they belong to us all. Get talking to your people and find the compromise that leads to happiness and health.

Do it now!