Hi,
I'm Caroline Castrillon,
The founder of Corporate Escape Artist.
After 25 years climbing the corporate ladder,
I decided to launch my own business and become a career coach so I could help people like you get the most out of life at work.
And today we're going to talk about setting healthy boundaries.
But first,
I want you to know that I've been in your shoes,
And we'll all agree that the last year has been without a doubt a super challenging one.
The demands on our time both personally and professionally have never been greater.
So I'm guessing as you're listening to this,
You're probably multitasking.
Maybe in your car or working from your home office,
Which may be the kitchen,
Bedroom,
Or living room sofa,
And you're definitely feeling overwhelmed,
Wondering how the heck you're going to be able to accomplish all your work projects and still have time to make dinner,
Walk the dog,
Get the kids to sleep,
And hopefully get some time to do something good for yourself.
But with technology,
Flexible work,
And the ever-changing workplace,
Setting healthy boundaries is more difficult than ever before.
So today we're going to talk about how you can do it in a way that's a win-win for both you and the organization.
Because by setting healthy boundaries,
You'll be able to work smarter,
Increase your productivity,
And finally achieve the work-life balance that you've been craving.
Now I know what you're thinking.
You're asking yourself,
Are there really ways to set healthy boundaries without putting my job at risk?
The answer is a resounding yes.
And it's not only good for you,
But also the people you work with.
Healthy boundaries at work can make the difference between professional fulfillment or burnout.
They are the physical,
Emotional,
And mental limits you create to protect yourself from overcommitting and even behaving in unethical ways.
So if it's so good for us,
Why is it so difficult to set healthy boundaries at work?
Well,
Here's an example.
One of my clients was furloughed,
And after being brought back by his company,
He's now afraid to say no to projects because he doesn't want to appear that he's not a team player.
Other examples could include your manager emailing you at all hours and expecting an immediate response,
Or maybe a coworker is speaking to you in a way that makes you uncomfortable or feels inappropriate.
Whatever the case may be,
I'm going to share three strategies to get you on the road to setting healthy boundaries at work.
So let's get started.
The first way to focus on setting healthy boundaries at work is to create awareness through what I call a boundary audit.
A boundary audit is going to help you reach clarity on where you need to start setting limits.
Begin by making a list of people and stressful situations that put too many demands on your time and keep you from accomplishing your daily priority list.
Pay attention to people,
Situations,
And actions that make you uncomfortable.
If you find yourself experiencing guilt,
Resentment,
Or anger,
That's a sure sign that a boundary needs to be addressed.
And it's an indicator of where you either need to set,
Reset,
Or better communicate boundaries.
The next step,
Once you've identified those areas where you need to focus,
Is to start setting limits.
One example could be not checking work email in the evenings between 6 and 9 p.
M.
So you can focus on family time.
Another may be to let your manager know that you need advance notice of work-related travel so that you can plan your family vacation.
And then thirdly,
Once you set your limits,
You need to communicate them to your team clearly and confidently.
For instance,
If you don't want your team to contact you at all hours of the day and night,
Tell them exactly when you'll be available for work conversations.
If you don't want to be contacted on vacation unless it is truly an emergency,
Make sure to clearly outline what exactly constitutes an urgent matter.
Don't assume people know what you're talking about.
Be very clear in your communication while still being friendly and professional.
Then when a boundary gets violated,
And it will,
Many times by mistake,
Go ahead and address it immediately.
Because it's better to reinforce your limits in the moment than to wait for the boundary to get crossed again.
So start by conducting a boundary audit,
Set your limits,
And communicate them clearly and confidently to your team.
Because with clear communication and practice,
You can learn to set healthy boundaries at work without alienating people or losing your paycheck.
Remember,
While it may feel uncomfortable at first,
With practice,
You too can become a master at boundary setting.
And I'm going to leave you with an amazing quote from author and researcher Brene Brown,
Who says it best.
Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves,
Even when we risk disappointing others.
We can't base our own worthiness on others' approval.
Only when we believe,
Deep down,
That we are enough,
Can we say,
Enough.
