🎒 Microlesson

🪞 Reflect

Has a colleague or boss ever made you feel pressured to stretch the boundaries you’ve established between work and life? How have you responded?

💡 Concept

Boundaries are dividing lines or limitations between spheres of activity. Setting and maintaining boundaries is key for preventing burnout, reducing conflict, increasing deep-work time, and maintaining mental and physical health.

When someone oversteps a boundary that's been set, we call this a "boundary stretch."

Examples include the following:

• expecting that all questions be responded to immediately

• adding more obligations to an already full workload

• consistently scheduling meetings outside of work hours

• requesting that a task be completed over the weekend or other time off

Boundaries scripts are written frameworks that team members can use to proactively maintain boundaries or respond when someone oversteps. These scripts could be used in either sync or async interactions to ensure that you reiterate your boundaries firmly and professionally.

Use the following formula to write a boundaries script:

1. Clarify the request. Make sure you understand exactly what the person is asking for—ask follow up questions if needed.

2. Respond with positivity. Provide a “yes” to a portion of the request that does not stretch your boundaries.

3. Identify the issue. State the part of the request that stretches your boundaries.

4. Explain your boundary. Details are not required, but explain that this is a boundary you have set for a reason.

5. Offer a solution. Suggest a way to accomplish the goal without having to stretch your boundaries.

6. Confirm next steps. Clarify the solution you’ve aligned on.

For example, to prepare for their presentation tomorrow, your manager asks you to meet at 7 pm this evening when your workday ends at 5 pm. An example boundaries script would be:

1. Clarify the request: Your session is at 2 pm tomorrow, correct? What do you need help with?

2. Respond with positivity: Yes, I am happy to provide feedback on your slides.

3. Identify the issue: Unfortunately, I cannot meet with you at 7 pm tonight.

4. Explain your boundary: I have committed to my family that I do not take meetings outside of my work hours.

5. Offer a solution: Can you share your slides with me now so I can provide feedback asynchronously?

6. Confirm next steps: I'll share my feedback with you by 10 am tomorrow.

🎬 Take Action

Here are some actions you can take to protect your and your team’s boundaries:

• Create boundaries scripts to use when a request is made that stretches a boundary. Be sure to include all five components of an effective script. ​​

• Write templates that incorporate these scripts so you can quickly respond to requests.

• Practice using the scripts with a coworker to get feedback.

📄 Additional Resources

Setting Boundaries at Work for Remote-Friendly Teams

Remote Worker Burnout: Is It You or the Company Culture?

✅ Check In

🧠 Keep Learning

Access the Boundaries Scripts template and more in our Hybrid Team Success Toolkit.

🎁 Learn with your team!

Refer our weekly microlessons to your team members to learn as a group! Just follow the instructions in the section below to get started.