Emergent Leaders Newsletter/015/ How to Master Boundaries as a Leader While Still Creating a Supportive Workplace Environment For Your Team

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New leaders are some of the most overwhelmed people out there. I often find myself helping them shift their thinking about time management to help them be more intentional and purposeful about how they spend their precious time – both at work and at home. By creating more alignment between their true priorities and responsibilities, it becomes easier to weed out the rest. But of course, it’s easier said than done.?

When I bring up the topic of boundaries with my clients,?I get mixed reactions. About half of my clients nod in acknowledgement, knowing they could communicate better boundaries to get their work done while the other half have serious concerns about establishing boundaries based on pre-conceived notions that creating?them will essentially shut them?off from their teams. I’m not at all suggesting the latter – but I do encourage setting up selective, temporary “walls”?to prevent being burdened by the continual onslaught of demands that overwhelm our new leaders. ?

While discussing some learning related to new boundaries one of my clients had experimented with over the week, he had a revelation. “Now I know why my old boss was so selective in what took up his time! I always thought it was a little too “corporate”, but all he was doing was making space for priorities." He continued "That’s probably why when I did have some 1-to-1 time scheduled with him, I had his full attention. He made me feel important, like what I had to say mattered.” While I can’t speak for my client’s old boss to confirm his line of thinking, he does touch on a similar observation some of my other coachees have noticed when they instill?their own boundaries. “It enables me?to be 100% focused on whatever is in front of me.” said another client. “Boundaries have helped me keep?mental clarity to be fully present.” another mentioned. Fact. ??

In my opinion, boundary setting (or time management) is an overlooked leadership skill, and it becomes ever more important as leaders move up in the ranks. There will always be demands on your time – and more so as your level of responsibility increases. One major factor that will determine an individual’s ability to handle their new leadership responsibilities – and continue to move up, is that individual’s ability to set (and respect) their boundaries. ?

Of course, when it comes to setting boundaries at work, it is important to strike a balance between accessibility and leadership responsibilities. I like to challenge my clients to think about how they manage their time, so here are a few points to help new and emergent leaders understand the benefits?of setting up clear?boundaries at work, as well as?the conditions that can help with successful integration of these boundaries:?

Improved Time Management: Setting boundaries enables leaders to allocate dedicated time for specific tasks and responsibilities. By doing so, they can prioritize their work effectively, which ultimately benefits the entire team. When leaders have ample time to focus on their core responsibilities, they can provide better guidance, make informed decisions, and contribute more strategically to the organization.?

Enhanced Productivity: Boundaries help leaders avoid constant interruptions and context switching, leading to increased productivity. When leaders concentrate on their tasks without frequent interruptions, they can accomplish more in less time. This efficiency allows them to be more available and present during dedicated periods for their direct reports. ?

Role Modeling Healthy Work-Life Balance: By setting boundaries, leaders demonstrate the importance of work-life balance to their team members. When leaders prioritize their own well-being and time management, it encourages others to do the same. This helps foster a culture where everyone respects each other's boundaries and avoids burnout.?If you're one of those leaders that stays late but insists that your team members don't have to, I can guarantee that more than few go home and experience some guilt about leaving "early" and are less likely to do so.

Encouraging Empowerment and Growth: Setting boundaries doesn't mean being inaccessible or detached from the team. Instead, it allows leaders to empower their direct reports by fostering independence and decision-making skills. By encouraging autonomy within a supportive framework (i.e. regularly scheduled 1-to-1's and huddles), leaders can create an environment where employees feel empowered to take ownership of their work while knowing they can seek guidance when necessary. ?

Transparent Communication: Effective boundary setting requires clear and transparent communication with the team. It's important for leaders to explain the reasons behind the boundaries and their positive impact on overall team productivity. By openly communicating about the boundaries, leaders can ensure that their direct reports understand the expectations and feel comfortable approaching them within the designated time limits. Had this been done by my client’s old boss, it could have gone a long way to prevent the weird?feelings behind the rigid “open/closed door” hours. ?

Scheduled Check-Ins and Support: To address concerns about being accessible, leaders can establish regular check-ins or office hours where they are available for discussions, feedback, and support. By proactively scheduling dedicated time for team interactions, leaders can foster an environment of open communication while still protecting their focus time.?

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Daily Scheduled “Sh*t” Happens Time Blocks: To prevent newly, super-intentional and purposeful schedules to stay on the rails, leaders can create brief daily time blocks to address the mishaps: the unplanned yet?urgent items that come up throughout the day. While the likelihood of 1 event happening is slim, there are so many of these potential unplanned events that it is highly likely that something will come up. I like to "plan for the worst, but hope for the best." By setting a little time for these things, leaders are much more likely to stay on track with the rest of their day.

It's crucial to emphasize that setting boundaries doesn't mean being distant or cold. It's about creating a structure that allows for effective time management, increased productivity while still creating a supportive work environment. It doesn’t have to be one or the other. ?

What boundaries are?you ready to set within the workplace to create the work/life balance you need to show up as your best self for your team and family??