How to Set Boundaries at Work (Without Career Consequences)

“Setting boundaries is so important,” says the glossy young millionaire who went to private school, owns their own investor-backed company and probably grew up with a pony and a personal stylist.

Well, it’s okay for her. But what about those of us working jobs where working through lunch is the norm and logging off at 5pm is almost unheard of? How are we supposed to set boundaries?

Well, it takes a little strategy and a lot of mindful communication, but it’s absolutely possible – so here’s how to set boundaries at work without bringing your commitment into question.

Understand what you actually need

Before you start setting boundaries left, right and centre, you need to understand the purpose of setting them.

Are you constantly playing catch-up with your actual work because you’re constantly in and out of meetings?

Are you constantly having to hop between different tasks like a demented rabbit because your manager keeps asking you to fit new tasks in without any context or clear deadline?

Understanding what you need and what’s currently blocking it is the first step towards knowing the type of boundaries you need to set.

Block out time

Create a schedule around your workload and any regular meetings you have, and here’s the secret: block out time for the important stuff in your actual calendar.

That way, anyone who wants to invite you to a meeting will see that you’re busy during that time and schedule it when you’re free instead (unless they’re my old boss – she tried to book a meeting with me when I was on annual leave once. Inconsiderate or simply lacking intelligence, who knows?).

Say no strategically

There’s almost an art to saying “no” with grace (i.e. so the other person doesn’t report you to your boss for daring to push back on their urgent request – the one that they actually knew about last week but chose not to share with you until the deadline).

And the key is often to lead with a reason and an alternative.

However, it’s important that your answer is clear and can’t be confused with a yes. Be polite, be kind, but be firm.

Build strong relationships

The uncomfortable truth is that you’re more likely to receive a positive reception to setting a boundary when someone likes you.

That’s why it’s so important to prioritise building relationships at work. It’s not about being a sycophant or winning a popularity contest, but cultivating a reputation for yourself as someone who is competent and hardworking (because you are!) so that when you do need to say no, it’s not seen as lack of work ethic or commitment to the business.