How to set boundaries at work
Our theme this week is stress management! One massive contributor to stress in the workplace is not setting appropriate boundaries. We have put together a little guide to help you feel more comfortable and confident setting boundaries- which is essential to managing your stress levels and your work-life balance.
1) Setting boundaries with your manager/employer/boss
We are, by nature, people pleasers and we tend to say yes to everything in order to keep other people happy. This is a particular pressure in the workplace- maybe your boss is always asking you to take on more and more tasks that are outside of your job description and quite frankly, you don’t have time for given your other priorities. Obviously, you want to be a team player and show willing but you also have to consider your own state of mind, the quality of your existing responsibilities and maintain your work-life balance.
One thing you could do, if you find yourself overwhelmed by more and more tasks being piled on, is to sit down with your manager and both make a list of what you understand your job responsibilities to be. Make sure you are both on the same page about this and then prioritise them. Once you have accounted for all your responsibilities and how much time it actually takes to complete them- it can be eye opening to both you and your employer as to what they are actually asking of you when they pile on extra tasks.
Another example of a stressor that can be resolved by setting a boundary is if you have a boss who likes to show up to your office unannounced and take over your day with a long strung out ‘meeting’- that, and we all know this- could have been an email.
You can easily establish a boundary here by organising a short weekly catch up as opposed to the ad hoc drop by, and create an agenda to keep control over the conversation so that it doesn’t hijack your schedule.
2) Be aware of your stressors
It is really important to be mindful of what causes you stress and anxiety in the workplace so that you know where you might need to set boundaries.
When you have decided for yourself what your limits are- make sure you communicate them to the people around you. If you do not want people contacting you after work hours or when you are on holiday- make sure you tell them clearly.
3) Saying yes or no
When someone comes to you- your boss or a colleague to ask something of you, you can take the time to think about it. When put on the spot; we tend to just say yes out of convenience but it is important to take the time to assess properly whether it is something you reasonably can and/or want to take on. This applies for work related tasks as well as social invitations.
On the back of this, is it important to be comfortable and confident saying no. There will be tasks that you can’t take on, or some after work parties you don’t want to go to and that is absolutely fine. Build your confidence in saying no in your everyday life and apply that in the workplace.
These are just a few starter points- our tips post this week has loads of great advice on stress management. Follow us on Instagram for these great tips and more!! @reddoorrecruitment