Creating Boundaries at Work

Last week I was working with a group of executive on Leadership branding, when the topic of BOUNDARIES came up. It often does. We know that boundaries are important, yet it seems to be so hard to actually create them and stick to them. Especially as leaders.

As I reflected on this topic, I created a list of 5 ways that you can start creating better boundaries for yourself at work. Think of this list like a buffet. I know not every strategy will work for you or with you. So look them over and try the ones that seem like the best fit.

1. Clearly Define Your Work Responsibilities: One of the first things you can do to create boundaries at work is to clearly define your job responsibilities. Make sure you understand what tasks are expected of you and what is not. This will help you avoid taking on extra work or responsibilities that are not part of your job description. Take time in meetings with your supervisor, to clarify expectations and priorities. Make sure your boss is aware of everything you are involved with at work. I often work with clients who feel that their boss does not actually know the work that they do. Now is your chance to start making that more clear.

2. Learn to Say "No": Learning to say "no" is another important aspect of creating boundaries at work. You need to be comfortable declining requests that are not part of your responsibilities or outside of your capacity. Within the workplace, a polite "no" can be very helpful. What is the difference between a polite "no" and a rude one? Usually, an explanation given afterwards. "No, I don't care about that" is very different from "No, I cannot make that work this week, but how about Tuesday?". No with an explanation can often be well received at work.

3. Manage Your Time: Effective time management is key to maintaining work-life balance and setting boundaries at work. One of the biggest ways that we can set boundaries at work is around our time. When someone asks, "Hey, have you got a minute?", we need to be honest with our response. "Actually I only have ten minutes before my next meeting" or "Actually, now is not a good time can I circle back to you this afternoon?". When you set boundaries around your time, you become more productive and focused.

4. Use Communication to Set Expectations: Communicate your boundaries with the people you work with on a daily basis. Make your boundaries clearly understood through verbal and written methods of communication. We cannot make assumptions about people understanding our boundaries. We have to be clear.

5. Disconnect After Work Hours: Every position and company is different when it comes to communication expectations after hours. For example, when my husband worked as a network engineer, he was expected to keep his phone on and access to email all the time. He was on-call and needed to stay in communication. However, when I was a college professor, I didn't need to communicate at all hours of the night. So, YOU need to understand and set boundaries that suit your position and industry. If you are not required to answer emails at night...DON'T. Keep yourself sane and prevent burnout by taking time to "not communicate" when you can.