Workplace Boundaries are Way More Important Than You Think!
Posted on March 23, 2023 by Adel Pour Hakimi, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
This article discusses the importance of workplace boundaries & provides some tips on how to set them.
We are conditioned by most societies & cultures to always prioritize the demands & needs of our superiors & please them to the extent that we may be at overcapacity sometimes with tasks that are not even part of our duties. This is because our career advancement may be dependent on the major factor of pleasing our managers & trying our best to exceed their expectations. This comes all at the expense of our mental & physical health resulting in life-work imbalances & burnout. A 2019 study by the Society for Human Resource Management found that 76% of HR professionals reported that their organization’s employees struggle with work-life balance & another 2020 survey by the staffing firm Robert Half showed that 47% of workers reported feeling burnout from their jobs. Therefore, setting boundaries is crucial for our mental & physical health & must be continuously practiced. Boundaries are limits we set in any relationship about what behaviors we will & will not accept from others. Boundaries in the workplace are professional limits we set with our managers & colleagues to avoid being overburdened, taken advantaged of or being subjected to inappropriate behavior. Below are 5 major reasons why it is important to set boundaries at the workplace.1) Maintaining work-life balance: Establishing boundaries at the workplace aids employees in maintaining a healthy work-life balance. It enables them to prioritize their free time, interests outside of work, and other pursuits, which can enhance their general wellbeing and prevent burnout. A study published in the Journal of Business & Psychology in 2021 which aimed to examine the relationship between boundary management and work-life balances found that employees who set clear boundaries & managed them effectively were more likely to experience lower workload & emotional exhaustion, have a better work-life balance, & reports higher level of job satisfactions.
2) Building Healthy Relationships: Setting Boundaries help establish clear expectations between employees & their colleagues, managers, or even clients. Mutual respect, trust, & collaboration can be all fostered, all of which are necessary for creating strong working relations. Also, it can minimize the chances of mangers taking advantage of their employees whether intentionally or unintentionally.
3) Enhancing Communication: Boundaries are crucial for successful interpersonal communication in any relationship.. It can enable staff members to respectfully and constructively express their needs, thoughts, and concerns, which can enhance communication among members of the organization. A study published in the Journal of Business & Psychology in 2021 found that communication played a crucial role in the relationship between work-life boundaries & work engagement. Effective communication helped to clarify work expectations and reduce work stress which in return increased work engagement.
4) Minimizing Work Conflicts: Conflicts or misunderstandings may occur when no boundaries are established. By establishing clear expectations for what behaviors are tolerated or not & how employees should be treated, boundaries may help avoid conflicts that can lead to tension & toxic environments if not resolved healthily.
5) Increasing Productivity: Setting Boundaries can help you prioritize your tasks & manage your time effectively as it will help you minimize taking on tasks that are outside your scope of duties. This assures that you are able to complete your work in a timely manner & meet your deadlines which in the end will enhance your productivity.
1. Practice Saying NO:
Setting Boundaries start by saying “NO” to the things that don’t align with you. It is important to start normalizing rejecting the demands & offers of others without apologizing or providing unnecessary explanation. Here are some examples of Saying “NO” politely:
a) I am flattered by your offer, but no thank you!
b) I am already at capacity, maybe you can ask someone else.
c) Now isn’t a good time for me. I’ll let you know if my schedule frees up.
d) No, I won’t be able to fit that into my schedule for this week.
e) I am actually happy to handle this project but will have to push the previous one for few days.
2. Define Your Limits:
Define your limits by examining past experiences where you felt discomfort, anger, & frustration from relationships at your workplace. Understand how important are these boundaries to be set & how lacking them is affecting you & the relationship itself. These boundaries can vary from you avoiding to reply to work emails on the weekend, limiting the number of working per week as agreed, & refusing to disclose personal things about your life to others.
3. Identify Job Responsibilities:
To create clear boundaries in your workplace, it’s important to recognize your specific job responsibilities so that you can establish limits that don’t clash with your duties. Doing so can also help you recognize if you’re taking on extra responsibilities without proper recognition. Talking about your responsibilities with your supervisor can ensure that you’re meeting their expectations and can help you negotiate any necessary accommodations to maintain healthy work boundaries.
4. Communicate Your Boundaries:
Communicate your boundaries to your supervisor & colleagues in a clear, direct, & respectful manner. Communication is important as it creates awareness about your boundaries that other might not know about. For example, if you are feeling overwhelmed with workload, you need to communicate this to your manager or colleagues & you need to delegate some other tasks Therefore, communication can solve issues that caused the need for boundaries from the first place which help you create a healthier work environment.
5. Be Transparent:
To establish boundaries effectively, it is important to be transparent with others about your intentions and reasoning. This can enhance their comprehension of your boundaries and potentially help you sustain them. Additionally, being honest with your manager regarding your work concerns and career objectives can motivate them to assist you in determining which boundaries to establish and equip you with the necessary resources to create a harmonious work-life balance.
6. Take time off:
Several full-time jobs provide a specific number of days off with pay each year, and if your employer extends this benefit, it is advisable to make use of it. Taking time off from work enables you to cultivate your personal life and unwind. Even if your job does not offer paid time off, it is still advantageous to plan breaks from work. Furthermore, in the event that you fall ill, it is crucial to stay at home to recuperate and heal instead of attempting to work through your illness.
7. Be ready for confrontations:
Being aware of potential disagreements that might result from boundaries, it is important for professionals to prepare themselves for confrontations. In the event that someone challenges a boundary that has been set, it is recommended to calmly communicate the limits and explain the importance of the boundary to you & your work. Make sure to inform your supervisor or HR contact about any confrontation that escalates so they can document & manage the issue presently & in the future.
8. Separate Your Work From Home:
It is essential to create and adhere to personal boundaries when you are at home, similar to those in place in a professional environment. This could involve leaving work-related tools at the office and only engaging in work-related tasks while at work. Additionally, setting limits at home could entail refraining from checking work-related emails during weekends.
