Faff Free Friday #25 - The Boundaries Issue

The Boundaries Issue

Self-Respect

How are you demonstrating self-respect right now?

Creating meaningful (to you and for good reason) boundaries, clear and easy to follow which you and your clients stick to?

Or not?

I thought I was 'on it'. Probably not.

Like over Covid times.

Caring - but who for?

I found myself responding to messenger queries at all time of day - and almost night.

Over and over from a small number of people, but significant.

I truly care for my clients and it has been a sticky time the last two plus years.

So surely that can't harm...a bit of help?

Surely?

But what about me - in caring for them, when did I care for myself?

Boundaries - Set?

In one of my past paid for groups, I had on offer lots of contact e.g. spotlight lives, board room (with wine!) Ask Me Anything posts, and special free 121 coaching sessions for certain things like setting goals - yes there is more - occasional freebie or discounted bonuses too.

But I was starting to get people messaging, and even wanting a quick chat to solve on a 121 basis.

Free.

The messaging was easy to answer: that is what I found myself doing. More and more and, like Pavlov's dog, responding immediately.

The other person, asking, probably never thought about it, no idea of the number of requests I get. So that is not THEIR problem.

It is mine. I had to stop giving FREE consultancy.?

THREE reasons I made a change (and you can too):

When we are juggling too many things, nothing seems to get done. Having boundaries, and being able to ringfence time and say NO, it is a start.

1. I took a holistic look at my time. Unpaid 'overtime' had to stop.
2. I had a good look at how much time I REALLY had to run my business, I wanted to increase 121 clients (paying) without upping my hours - swapping unpaid for paid hours was key.
3. And what about my home commitments? I wanted to leave plenty of time for family who really needed me over this last two years, and also for ME (that one is a WIP!) so each message I answered was a quarter of an hour here or half and hour there I COULDN'T be present for people who really valued me.

Not that clients DON'T value me.

VALUE ME, AND THEY VALUE THEMSELVES

But one thing that is totally true in coaching, the other person MUST be committed (and paying is one of THE best ways to commit!) if they are to change their habits.

Having skin in the game, VALUING themselves enough to put money on the table, then they will commit to a transforming plan of action.

New Boundaries

I am a human being, so this is work in progress. But to work ethically, boundaries set for ME and for CLIENTS means we both can relax and get on with coaching, sure of the relationship, the expectations and what stepping over those boundaries looks like. It is honest, upfront, straightforward - and sustainable.

Allowing life to run with ease and flow - not constantly tying ourselves up in knots.

Magic

Tying yourself in knots, needing a time machine to get everything done at all, never mind done well, it simply isn't real life.

My clients found that, so I responded - it helped me at the same time. It is ALL about time, and I can help you find that...

The Gift of Time...

Here to help you get real in your work/life balance and start to reduce overwhelm NOW, is my unique 'Magic 24 Square Exercise' - the one I developed for my clients and now entrust to you - free - but you do this one on your own (lol!)

Your gateway to starting to really nail your boundaries too - when you realise how LITTLE time you have, you will start to value it more.

You will watch a short explainer video and access your own template - the whole thing will take you under 30 minutes but may save you literally hundreds of hours a year.

And time really is a gift in itself, isn't it?

You can access it by clicking here.

Here Is Me Being Transparent I offer free stuff, like this above, in return for an email - then I add you to my mailing list. You can choose to unsubscribe if you don't want my ramblings.

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