Workplace Boundaries: A Guide to a Healthier Work Relationship
Workplace boundaries are often the hardest to put in place and maintain.
When setting a new workplace boundary, you are introducing a new “rule of engagement”, while the rest of your colleagues work according to the old rules, so to speak.
The definition of workplace boundaries is “the limits of professional relationships, responsibilities, and behaviors in a work environment.” These boundaries help establish clear expectations between you and your manager, your employees and colleagues. Good workplace boundaries ensure everyone feels respected and that their time is valued.
Without workplace boundaries, you could start to experience burnout, confusion, or apathy that affect your productivity and well-being. The internal conflict of working hard and sacrificing personal time to get-it-done ultimately turns into resentment and dissatisfaction.
A well-defined workplace boundary accommodates each other’s personal time, in order to maintain the family and social foundations needed to thrive in a workplace that demands high productivity, high stress and constant change.
Types of Workplace Boundaries
Several types of workplace boundaries play a role in maintaining a respectful work environment:
Physical Boundaries
Personal space, office layout, and how we interact with each other.
Emotional Boundaries
Respect for each other’s feelings and mental well-being.
Time Boundaries
Certain projects will need more of our time and attention but work responsibilities should not consistently extend beyond office hours.
Workload Boundaries
Includes the type of and amount of work responsibilities.
Communication Boundaries
Respecting our preferred modes and times of communication, especially for after-hour communication.
If you need help understanding workplace boundaries, check out my free Workplace Boundaries worksheet here.
Workplace Boundaries and Your Mental Health
Unclear or nonexistent boundaries can negatively impact our mental health.
Overextending ourselves to meet the pressures from managers or colleagues can cause undue stress, exhaustion, and eventually, burnout.
If you have a lack of workplace boundaries, you might be experiencing:
- Anxiety from excessive workload demands
- Difficulty in separating work and personal life
- Decreased job satisfaction
- Increased workplace conflicts
- Feeling undervalued or taken advantage of
Boundaries in the workplace is one area where they’re most needed. Family, friends, and even your parents-in-law are other areas you might want to consider as well.
Regardless of who we set our boundaries with, healthy boundaries help maintain emotional well-being, improves mental and performance, and promotes a more positive environment.
Setting Those Workplace Boundaries
When starting to establish workplace boundaries, make sure you know why you are setting them.
It is important to communicate clearly with those around you and most importantly, be consistent. Here’s how you can set them:
- Identify Your Limits – know what you are comfortable with regarding work hours, communication, workload, and personal space.
- Communicate Clearly – be polite yet firm when you communicate your boundaries. For example, if you don’t answer emails after work hours, let your team know.
- Use Assertive Communication – be direct and confident but not aggressive. Use words such as “I am” or “I will be” instead of “I would like to.”
- Set Realistic Expectations – make sure your boundaries align with your job role and company policies. Leaving work an hour early to avoid traffic is not a boundary.
- Enforce Your Boundaries Consistently – if you make exceptions frequently, people will think your boundaries are flexible. Stick to them to reinforce their importance.
- Seek Support When Needed – if a boundary is not being respected, you might need to chat to a manager, HR representative, or trusted colleague for advice.
Get your free copy of the Workplace Boundaries worksheet, which includes a guide on how to reinforce your boundaries.
Maintaining Your Workplace Boundaries
Once you’ve set your workplace boundaries, it is crucial that you maintain them.
Here are some suggestions to remain consistent:
- Reinforce When Necessary – people will overstep a boundary, it is up to you to remind them.
- Lead by Example – if you expect others to respect your boundaries, you should respect theirs as well.
- Practice Self-Care – a routine you enjoy outside of work serves as a reminder of why we have workplace boundaries.
- Be Flexible When Appropriate – sometimes circumstances require slight adjustments. We need to remain flexible when necessary but check that flexibility doesn’t turn into overcommitment.
- Address Boundary Violations Timeously – if a colleague or manager disregards your boundaries, you will need to chat to them directly or escalate it to HR.
My Top Tips About Boundaries
Boundaries are important in all areas in your life: work, family, friends, and even in-laws. Here is what you need to keep in mind when putting boundaries in place:
The first boundary is the hardest.
Your colleagues might joke about it and your manager might forget. This first boundary violation is the most important to reestablish. Gently remind the person that you are not able to assist due to X commitment.
It’s not the way it’s done.
When you set a workplace boundary, you are stepping outside of the “clan”. The standard-operating-procedure so to speak. While everyone works long hours, you are leaving at 5. This will be uncomfortable, and you might encounter resistance. Be aware of this shift in the team dynamics.
Communicate with your manager.
Setting a workplace boundary doesn’t mean you aren’t a team player. It shows respect for the team if you communicate with your manager first. if you are struggling with work-life balance for instance, you could say - “I need to make sure I am fulfilling my family responsibilities. This means that I will be leaving work at 5. If you need anything from me, please send an email and I will attend to it first thing in the morning.”
Remain flexible.
If you have an important deadline to meet, working long hours is required. Make sure to express this to your manager. It is then up to you to prevent it from becoming a regular occurrence. If you haven’t yet, check out the free Workplace Boundaries workbook, which includes a guide to manage boundary violations.
If you fail, try again.
Learn from the error and adapt your approach. Setting workplace boundaries takes time and effort. The responsibility for workplace boundaries is yours. The organisation is not responsible for setting your workplace boundaries, organisations focus on output and profit with the resources they have.
Conclusion
A workplace boundary expresses that the value of your professional time is exactly the same as your personal time. Spending time with your family is as valuable and important as your time at work. When you give one area too much, you decrease the value of another. This will easily become the norm.
Workplace boundaries are essential for maintaining professional relationships, preventing burnout, and improving overall job satisfaction. By understanding, setting, and maintaining your boundaries, you can foster a healthier, more productive work relationship.
Good luck!
Last chance! Get your free copy of the Workplace Boundaries worksheet, which includes a guide on how to reinforce your boundaries. Make sure to subscribe to the monthly newsletter, keeping you up to date on new content and wellbeing trends.
