Getting the right balance
Getting the right balance between really firm and thick boundaries and those which can blur and become non-existent can be a delicate balance, if they are too hard and rigid we can be viewed as lacking compassion, and if they are too flimsy people start to blur the line between a professional and personal relationships.
The art is about getting the right balance between work and home life, friendships and job roles and the way that communication happens between parties.
Setting boundaries allows you to balance working in your organisation with all the other areas of your life and to make sure that those boundaries allow you to avoid drama and take on the role of a guide which allows you to facilitate the person you are working with in a professional way.
What are professional boundaries?
How you behave and communicate with those you support
A framework and guidance within which the relationship between you and others
A means of enabling the relationship to be professional and safe for the other person as well as for you
What do they give you?
They allow you to protect and take care of yourself
So that you can better serve others
Avoid burn-out
Create a safe and respectful environment in which communication can occur
Managing workloads and ensuring priorities are met
Maintenance of ethics and professionalism
What do they give the other person?
People know where they stand
Support when they may be in a vulnerable position
Enablement and empowerment
Objectivity to support and guide them
Lack of them may lead them to being over reliant on you.
Lack of them can cause confusion as people don’t know where they stand
Lack of them can potentially cause emotional distress and emotional harm
During my training sessions and coaching, we approach this topic as one of the initial discussion pieces as it’s important to view and review the role of boundaries for you and the other stakeholders in a way which is right for your profession and your circumstances.
There is never a one approach fits all and the knowledge that you and your team have already gained about what happens when I’ve gotten it right and what happens when I’ve gotten it wrong can be invaluable.