In this episode, we’ll be looking at things that are vital in our professional and private lives. With these things Culture, Accountability, even Teams can take shape. Without them they are empty and lack definition.
Good morning, good afternoon and good evening wherever you are and welcome to the latest episode of the My Coach Ben podcast. Ladies and gentlemen, guys, and gals. In this episode, we will be unravelling the topic of Boundaries.
What are Boundaries?
As you know, I’m a stickler for a definition and so I have here the definition has provided by our good friend, the Oxford English Dictionary:
boundary /’baund(a)ri
• NOUN
(plural boundaries)
1 a line which marks the limits of an area; a dividing line: a county boundary
the river marks the boundary between the two regions [as modifier] a boundary wall.
• (boundaries) a limit of something abstract, especially a subject or sphere of activity: a community without class or political boundaries.
2 Cricket a hit crossing the limits of the field, scoring four or six runs.
Boundaries in the Workplace
Establishing and upholding boundaries within the workplace are integral to maintaining a productive work environment.
1. Define Roles and Responsibilities Clearly: Establishing clear boundaries begins by clearly outlining each employee’s roles and responsibilities within an organisation, to ensure everyone understands who their responsibilities fall with.
Defining each role and responsibility allows everyone in an organisation to understand who does what task or decision.
2. Honour Individual Boundaries: Everyone has personal boundaries when it comes to privacy, space and lifestyle – coworkers and managers need to respect these personal restrictions by not prying into personal matters or invading someone’s private space.
3. Establish appropriate communication channels: Use appropriate communication tools for different forms of interaction; for work-related discussions use email while project management software facilitate collaboration and break areas are reserved for personal conversations.
4. Encourage Life Balance: Supporting life balance helps employees establish healthy boundaries between work and personal life. Encourage employees to take breaks, use vacation days and avoid excessive overtime to prevent burnout while maintaining an optimum work-life balance.
5. Set Clear Expectations: Set clear expectations so as to prevent miscommunication or conflict. Define working hours, response times for emails/messages sent, availability requirements or task completion/availability expectations so employees can manage their time efficiently while setting boundaries around work commitments.
This also assists employees with time management strategies as they set boundaries around work commitments.
The Coaching Perspective
From the coaching perspective, boundaries are a topic that is rarely discussed in terms of development and/or indeed coaching sessions.
However, boundaries are crucial in order to ensure that any targeted culture, team concept, values or change – many topics we’ve previously visited here on the channel, can be effectively delivered.
Here are five questions that help us to define and implements effective boundaries. As usual remember these are not in any particular order.
1. How would you define and describe your personal boundaries across various aspects of your life (work, relationships and self-care)?
2. Are your current boundaries in line with your values and priorities? If not, what adjustments might need to be made in order to create healthier boundaries?
3. What situations often cause difficulty when trying to uphold boundaries, and why?
4. How can you effectively communicate and enforce your boundaries while at the same time, taking into consideration others’ needs in maintaining positive relationships?
5. What strategies or tools can be implemented into daily routine to guarantee consistent observance and respect of boundaries?
To summarise
As we’ve seen, boundaries are essential both in the organisation and on a personal level. In my experience of coaching sessions, whether being the coach or coach, boundaries are often overlooked in preference for other “sexier” topics such as strategy, implementation, development.
None of which can be achieved without clearly defined boundaries that support their achievement and delivery.
The absence of defined boundaries leads to a lack of structure that ultimately hinders achievement. Boundaries can make or break any initiative. They allow for focus and make unnecessary diversions less likely.
I’ll wrap it up there. Thanks for stopping by. Remember to like and subscribe, and tell your friends and colleagues. Follow the blog on Facebook, Instagram and X. Until next time, stay inspired and give your best.
Peace…
Your Coach Ben.
