A personal or work boundary is a limit you set that says, “This is what’s okay, and this is what is not okay.” A boundary is something that you personally honor and respect. It has to start on the inside. If you don’t defend your own boundaries and people find out that you don’t, it can lead to a conflict or frustration in the end.
For example, suppose you set a work boundary that you don’t work past 6pm because you want to spend time with your family. You often find yourself staying late to help people at the last minute solve a problem. As a result, people are going to say, “This is a person I can ask to help me after work hours. Now you’ve set yourself up for workload balance issues as you struggle with helping people get things done but still trying to spend time with your family.
Balancing can often be challenging
In today’s struggling employment environment, many people are shy about defending their boundaries. The fear is that if you stick to a work boundary, you will be seen as someone who is not really committed to the organization. However, people who work hard and maintain boundaries usually get more respect and better results than people who allow others to take their time for granted.
Restore your workload balance by setting clear boundaries and prioritizing your work. Take the time to sit down with your manager or mentor and review all of the tasks you are currently involved with. Identify those tasks that are most important and those that can be dropped, delegated, or deferred. You’ll be surprised at the positive impact it will have on your work. Do it today!
P.S Check out this powerful handout on 10 steps to building a strong personal foundation
