[00:00:00] Because I personally think that setting boundaries is essential for leaders because it underpins professionalism.
[00:00:05] It says, this is something that we're going to do and these are things that we're not going to do.
[00:00:10] It promotes healthy work life integration where people don't have to feel consumed by their work.
[00:00:16] And it cultivates an environment of respect and trust when people say, hey, I can't take this on right now.
[00:00:21] And you as a leader say, okay, I get that.
[00:00:24] That is really important for creating a great culture where people want to work. on whether or not she was going to say yes or no. And I said, you're so much nicer than me. And she texted me right back and she said, no, I'm not. You just know how to set healthy boundaries. And you know what? You're way happier because you do that. And I thought a lot about that text exchange because I was a little disappointed in myself that I fell into that narrative
[00:01:41] that somehow by setting boundaries,
[00:01:43] I was not a nice person.
[00:01:44] That by somehow saying, no, I that we're going to do, and these are things that we're not going to do. It promotes healthy work-life integration where people don't have to feel consumed by
[00:03:01] their work.
[00:03:02] And it cultivates an environment of respect and trust when people understand the rationale, they're more likely to accept and even appreciate your boundary.
[00:04:20] For example, I have a boundary of I don't work past 6 p.m.
[00:04:24] I like to cook dinner with my family and have that time to connect with my
[00:04:28] husband and my son.
[00:05:22] I told them, like, I want to be a good mom. My son is not going to be in the house for that much longer.
[00:05:24] And I want to really enjoy this time with him.
[00:05:28] People appreciate that.
[00:05:30] So be really clear about the why.
[00:05:33] Additionally, you need to be an active listener, right?
[00:05:37] Just because you set boundaries and you explain the why doesn't mean that people
[00:05:41] can't question them or just have to accept them.
[00:05:44] Right.
[00:05:45] If you actively listen and allow people to emails. We want our employees here to feel like they have the ability to decompress and unplug from work and that they don't have to answer emails at all hours of the night or wee hours of the morning. But let's face it, we as leaders, some of us like to get up really early. I get up at four o'clock every morning.
[00:07:01] I might send an email at four o'clock.
[00:07:04] But what that message sends to other people
[00:07:06] is that you're required to lead by example. Don't send those emails. If you are working late or working early for whatever reason, use the scheduled send. This really does help encourage the adoption throughout the whole organization. If we don't want work to take over our lives,
[00:08:20] and we have to lead by example,
[00:08:22] we have to embody those boundaries.
[00:08:25] So you won't see me sending emails at 10 o'clock at night
[00:08:28] because I go to bed the company before their family, then that is an inconsistent solve problems, but I'm not going to come up with the recommendations.
[00:11:00] And he paused and he said, you're right.
[00:11:03] And it was such an important conversation.
[00:11:05] I created trust by setting those boundaries. boundaries for success so that people know, okay, I'm going to go do this project and I know what's expected of me and I know what winning looks like and I know when I need to deliver this. Do not be afraid to delegate, to trust your team. It is an effective form of boundary setting that can lead to innovative solutions, a more engaged motivated team and you're not feeling like you have to be the
[00:12:21] one to do all the work. And finally, evolved, and so I haven't been so rigid
[00:13:40] that I haven't been able to grow.
[00:13:42] So just remember that boundaries can always change.
[00:13:45] You are in charge of studying them
[00:13:46] and you can be in good as a leader. You can set boundaries for yourself and you can help your team set boundaries and you can help your individual employees set boundaries where everybody feels good.
[00:15:00] They can be their very best but they also have the space to say no, they have space
[00:15:05] to rest and recover and thrive.