One area which many leaders ignore

 When I was sailing on ships, one of the key skills I learntwas voyage planning

 

Voyage planning is a meticulous exercise and you need to take several factors into account such as :

 

The weather conditions, ocean currents, fuelcapacity, type of cargo, contingency planning

 

A well planned and executed voyage means safe and timely operations of ships

 

One of the activities during voyage planning is to mark “NO-GO” areas on the navigation chart

 

As the name implies, these are areas where the ship is NOT supposed to goto avoid any damage

 

These areas include shallow waters, old ship wrecks, rocks & reefs, areas which have not been surveyed etc

 

These NO-GO areas have to be clearly identified, marked& avoided by a safe distance

 

Why am I telling you this ?

 

Because as a leader, you need to set clear boundaries at workplace

 

Your NO-GO areas

 

What will you say NO to

 

What is acceptable and what is not

 

What is negotiable and what is not

 

These could be related to time, behaviors, privacy or information

 

These could be physical, social or emotional

 

This is an important, yet ignored aspect of self-awareness as a leader

 

Sometimes, you are not aware of what boundaries to set and how

 

And other times, you know it, but are afraid or hesitant… what will people think about me, will I still be popular ?

 

Setting boundaries give you sense of control and space

 

It is important for your wellbeing and optimal performance

 

And it’s not just for you..

 

It allows people around you to understand how to best work with you

 

And yes, there is the principle of reciprocity involved..

 

You need to make sure you honor other people’s boundaries as well

 

Boundaries are essential elements of building trust and respect

 

What happens when you don’t set & communicate clear boundaries ?




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