There has been a huge influx of conversation around boundary setting in the workplace, especially since the rise of remote work and 24/7 communication tools that have blurred the lines between our jobs and personal lives. 

So in a world where the lines are blurrier than ever, how can you set effective boundaries?


Start by defining boundaries

Our favorite definition of a boundary was coined by Dr. Becky Kennedy, a clinical psychologist based in New York City. She states that at it’s core, a boundary is something that you do, not something you ask someone else to do. This differentiation is important because it means you are in control of the outcome.

What that might sound like at work: 

“I snooze my Slack notifications every day at 6pm to stay present with my family.”

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Consider your context

Setting a boundary like the Slack example above might work well for some folks in their personal lives, but it’s not always that simple in the workplace. That’s likely because it doesn’t fully consider the context of your environment. 

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Here’s an example:

Let’s imagine that the individual setting this boundary is an Internal Communications professional and it’s their job to keep all employees up to date on company news. They can set a boundary that they’re turning off their Slack notifications every day at 6, but one evening, a massive storm hits one of their East Coast offices and they need to partner with the HR team to do welfare checks on the employees there. This is an example of job-specific context that helps us think about how to make an even more effective boundary. 

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Here’s how that might sound: 

“I snooze my Slack notifications every day at 6pm to stay present with my family. If something urgent happens after 6pm, please send me a text to reach me as quickly as possible.”

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Enforce with confidence 

Even with clear boundaries, there will inevitably be times when they’ll be challenged. The best thing you can do in these moments is to enforce your boundary with kind, clear confidence.

Here’s what that might sound like: 

A colleague via text: “Hey! Sorry to bug you in the evening, but I’m wondering if you can hop on zoom real quick to talk through that comms plan for next week. I’m on a roll and would love to get it wrapped. It will be quick!” 

Your response: “Hey. I won’t be able to sign on this evening, but let’s definitely connect tomorrow and I’d be happy to help get that wrapped up. Looking forward to seeing what you’ve put together.” 
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Clear, kind and confident!