One area which many leaders ignore

When I was sailing on ships, one of the key skills I learnt was 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 ?

 

You might end up doing more of what other people want, rather than what you want

 

Instead of focusing on your priorities, you end up working on other people’s priorities – this can lead to frustration, anxiety and stress

 

It can create a lot misunderstanding and friction at work

 

More often than not, not setting time boundaries can leave you exhausted and overwhelmed

 

Obviously, this is also applicable in personal life as well

 

So here’s something for you to reflect upon

 

1) Do you find it difficult to set boundaries for yourself ?

2) Are there occasions when you end up saying YES, when you should have said NO ?

3) In your opinion, what are the most important boundaries to set for yourself ?





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