How to Set Boundaries at Work

You said yes once.

Then again.

Now you're somehow the person who gets every urgent request, picks up everybody else's work and answers messages at ridiculous hours.

Setting boundaries at work doesn't require becoming difficult or announcing that you're “protecting your energy”.

This guide shows you how to push back professionally while still being somebody people actually want to work with.

You'll learn how to:

• say no without making it confrontational

• push back on unrealistic deadlines

• deal with constantly increasing workloads

• stop other people's urgency automatically becoming yours

• handle out-of-hours expectations

• reset boundaries you've already allowed to slip

• deal with a manager who ignores reasonable boundaries

• distinguish between occasional flexibility and a permanent expectation

Includes natural wording you can adapt to real workplace situations.

Written by Lee Harding, a Talent Acquisition leader with 20+ years' experience across hiring, recruitment and leadership.