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Freedom Through Boundaries: How to Set Expectations and Reduce Frustrations in Your Business
Tell me if this sounds familiar: you’ve found your ideal client and you’re so excited to work with them.
But they call and text you All. The. Time.
Or, you’ve hired a new team member to complete some admin tasks. They’re awesome, friendly, and hard-working. But they have a bunch of questions at all hours of the day or night.
It’s draining y’all.
But no matter how exhausting it is to always be “on” and responsive to clients or team members, there’s this pull to continually placate them and be available 24/7.
Because, without that client or without that team member, your business will fall apart—right?
Wrong.
I’m here to tell you that boundaries do not push people away from you. They actually bring the right people toward you. They can help you find freedom, peace, and efficiency in your business.
I talked all about this topic on episode 33 of The Determined AF podcast—have a listen or read on here for key takeaways about how to set boundaries to optimize your biz.
What Even Are Boundaries?
Boundaries, simply, are the limits we set with other people. They show others what is acceptable and unacceptable in their behavior toward us. And this goes for both personal and professional relationships.
Speaking strictly of your work, though, your boundaries teach people how they can treat you. They show what you’re okay with and not okay with.
That said, your boundaries can—and should—change over time. When you’re just starting a new business or initiative you may have more capacity for late-night texts or last-minute meetings. You’re excited about the work and enjoy the constant go-go-go.
Over time, though, your situation or energy might change. You need to then re-evaluate your boundaries and adjust them to serve your current strategies and goals. After all, I imagine you had a vision for a life with more time freedom, so you eventually need to set your business up to offer that.
"The root cause of most frustration, in business and life, is often the divergence between expectations and reality. To minimize this, it's imperative to master the art of setting clear expectations with your clients and team members."
How to Set Boundaries
The first step in setting boundaries is to recognize what drains you. For me, when I just started my real estate business, I was working seven days a week to get it off the ground. I took calls during my son’s football games and accepted last-minute appointments on a regular basis.
But it was draining and I started growing resentful.
I remember so clearly when I set a boundary around taking client calls. I changed my voicemail in 2020 to say, “If you’ve reached me after 7:00 p.m. or on a Sunday or holiday, I’ll respond to you the next business day.” And you know what happened? People respected it. I was able to place and enforce a boundary around my time to regain my peace.
So, start by identifying what you need to protect through some boundaries.
Then, communicate them. Set the expectations.
No one knows your boundaries if you don’t tell them.
Get clear on what they are, communicate them to the relevant people, and then follow up and enforce them.
Say you’ve told an employee that the weekly report needs to include XYZ. Well, the first time they turn something in without that, follow up with a clear and kind direction: “I noticed the report didn’t include XYZ. This is an expectation I set with you because it’s vital information. Without it, I need to spend more time editing it. Please ensure that your next report includes it."
Determine your boundaries. Communicate them. Uphold them.
"Sometimes it’s you who doesn’t respect your boundaries. You teach people how to treat you. So if you’re going to be frustrated by getting messages at 10:00 pm, and you’ve told them you don’t take messages or respond after 7:00, but there you are doing it anyway, then you need to set some boundaries for yourself.”
3 Benefits of Boundaries in Your Business
Communication and dialogue are not just important for upholding boundaries, but they’re also vital parts of building rapport with clients.
Here’s the thing—if you can communicate your own expectations and boundaries (and uphold them), you are generating trust with the client. You are sticking to your word and communicating with respect. It’s a win-win situation.
Besides establishing trust and rapport, there are other benefits to creating boundaries in your business:
- Decreased stress and more peace: Boundaries create clarity. This, in turn, allows you to take your foot off the gas all the time and relax more.
- Reduces frustration: When you clearly communicate expectations and boundaries, you don’t need to keep repeating yourself or avoid difficult conversations. Communication is more straightforward and you won’t get frustrated from holding it all in. Plus, the party on the receiving end feels less frustrated because they already know what to expect. I say it all the time: "Setting expectations reduces frustration."
- Increased well-being: Setting boundaries at work has a positive domino effect on your personal life, too. When you uphold your boundaries, you create space and time for self-care, personal growth, and personal relationships. You reclaim time and can then allocate it to what matters most in your life.
Boundaries help you live a full and peaceful life that’s in total alignment with your goals and values. Without boundaries, you run ragged all over the place and there’s no time or space left for your life.
In this way, boundaries are a reminder that you’re not just an entrepreneur, but a person deserving of relaxation, joy, and care.
“Setting clear boundaries enables you to carve out time for self-care and personal growth and personal relationships. It reminds you that you are not just an entrepreneur, but also a person deserving of relaxation, joy, and care. This balance is vital for your long-term success and happiness.”
Boundaries are an act of empowerment. They signify that you have the confidence to stand up for what you believe in, prioritize your needs, and lead with integrity.
And this sense of confidence and empowerment fuels you and drives you toward success in many areas of your life.
If you want to dig deeper into the topic of boundaries, listen to episode 33 of The Determined AF podcast. And if you want some more support, grab a copy of my Boundaries Planner.
It’s a 22-page planner packed with ideas and prompts to help you reclaim your energy by setting clear boundaries. I know you’ll benefit from it and am excited for you to get started on this journey.
What's the first thing you plan to make a non-negotiable?
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