Setting Boundaries at Work
Boundaries, boundaries boundaries! By this day in age I am sure you have heard someone, somewhere talk about boundaries! Boundaries are a personal favorite for us here at Birch Group Services.
Boundaries are necessary.
Boundaries are healthy.
Boundaries protect our peace!
We need boundaries not only in our personal lives, but also our professional lives. So often, people will let work consume their lives off the clock. This has to stop!
Remember, when you’re at work, you work. When you are at home, you live your life OUTSIDE of work. Once you log out, close your computer or leave your office work should leave your mind until you clock back in. So, if you’re struggling with this balance, here are some tips to help you build stronger boundaries.
First and foremost, set those boundaries as early as possible! Make it known what is acceptable and what isn’t. Establish the expectation with your colleagues and managers early on. I hate to say it, but if you don’t your kindness will be mistaken for weakness and you will be taken advantage of.
Once you decide a boundary is needed, be firm and direct when setting it. If you have that coworker who sends you emails at 10 p.m. or 7 a.m. and then asks first thing if you’ve had a chance to read their email…make it clear why you haven’t. A simple sentence you can use is, “Yes, I saw your email once I logged back into work this morning. There are other tasks that I need to address and complete before I have a chance to dive into your request but I will get back to you by the end of the day.”
Not everything needs to be addressed immediately. Repeat after me, “Not everything needs to be addressed immediately.” Of course, some things do…but most do not. Don’t forget that and don’t over extend yourself if it’s not necessary.
Always prioritize your workload and responsibilities. If you are like I was in the workplace, you probably feel that you can do a task more efficiently than if you were to ask someone else to do it. STOP DOING THAT. Stop picking up the slack, stop doing OTHER PEOPLE’S jobs just because you can. Let people do their jobs and if they fail, they fail. Let them fail. It is not YOUR JOB to do everything, it is not your job to save everyone else’s ass. Do your job, and let people do theirs.
There will be PUSH BACK once you start setting boundaries. Especially if you are making changes after working with people for a while. It is easier to start a new job and have your boundaries up and ready to roll. But if you’re a few years into a job and now need to set boundaries, expect people to notice the change. People will push to see if you’re serious about setting the boundary, PUSH BACK. Stand firm, and don’t waver. This is your peace you’re protecting.
Boundaries are tough because so much of our society is built upon pushing people’s boundaries. We are so desensitized to over extending ourselves, that has to change. You can still be an incredible employee and be amazing at your job and have solid boundaries. Protect your peace always!