It’s time to set boundaries at work

Tired of after-hours work emails? It’s time to set boundaries at work

 Do you call or text your team after hours or on the weekend? Do you expect them to respond immediately or wait until regular business hours?

 If the answer to the first question is yes, it’s time to rethink your workplace culture and encourage your staff to set boundaries that define their work limits.

Setting boundaries is not about saying no to work or deadlines. It’s about your staff managing their workload, stress and health more effectively.

 Why do clear boundaries matter? They’ll make your team feel valued and help them find a proper work-life balance without risking burning out or developing anger or resentment.

 Remember when you had to sneak out of your daughter’s evening winter play in the school gymnasium because your boss called? Of course you do – these are the kind of work-related interruptions nobody forgets.

 So, what’s the culture like at your business?

 Do staff feel empowered to say no to an unrealistic work request without feeling guilty or pressured to do so?

 Healthy boundaries at work are essential for creating healthy, happy and high-functioning teams who are productive, collaborative, engaged and committed to your company. 

 It’s not just important to have boundaries with your manager. Colleagues and clients also need to be aware of and respect your limits. 

 Communication is key

 How can you expect others to respect your boundaries if you do not clearly communicate your boundaries?

 Here’s how you can start. In the example above—weekend-interrupting calls or emails—if you feel comfortable broaching the subject, you can respectfully let your manager know that you would prefer them to communicate during regular business hours unless it’s urgent because you feel pressure to respond immediately, which impacts your life away from the office.

 Or, if this feels awkward, you can take another approach: silently set your boundary by not constantly monitoring your emails after hours and responding to any messages at the start of your workday. This may spark a conversation with your manager, providing a perfect segue for further discussing your boundaries.  

 We all know what it’s like to be a new employee eager to please and fit in, which makes you susceptible to dropping your boundaries to make an excellent first impression. However, the opposite is true: there’s never a better time to set boundaries with your boss and new workmates.

 Active listening and observing

 An observant leader can pick on boundary signals sent by employees who are unwilling to discuss their work limits openly.

Listen closely, and you can pick up hints from the tone of an email or see body language cues that demonstrate they are trying to define their work limits without saying it aloud.

You will be surprised at how much you can pick up when you start observing non-verbal communication. 

 You will build a more resilient, energized and robust group by respecting your team's time and commitments.

Model behaviour

 As you often hear me say in this newsletter, leaders must lead by example. By avoiding contacting staff outside of business hours unless it’s an emergency, you show respect for employees’ personal time and reinforce the importance of a proper work-life balance. 

 Leaders must also set clear boundaries. Sure, you are often under increased pressure to monitor your work phone and email in the evenings and on the weekends, even during your kid’s big soccer game.

But if you don’t set work limits, you risk burnout, resentment, and a drop in productivity.

 Show your team the value of disconnecting from work to rejuvenate. You can be an influencer.

 By actively engaging in quality time with family and prioritizing your own well-being, you set an important precedent that the work email or phone call can—and should—wait until Monday.