Leadership Up Close # 23: Boundaries

Do you think the owner of this suburban driveway (down the other end of my street) protests too much?

Perhaps. But it’s busy where I live.

My bet is they’ve come home tired and hungry after a hard day at work and haven’t been able to park in their own driveway. A few too many times.

That’s what happens when you cross someone’s boundary. They let you know. At least you hope they will, so you know what not to do next time.

Sometimes it’ll be loud and clear, like with the driveway. Other times it’s more subtle.

The point is, we’d rather know. Most of us aren’t in the business of upsetting others.

What about your boundaries at work?

Is that what you do when your boundaries are crossed at work? Let others know?

Or do you have times, like me, when you wish you’d spoken up?

It’s normal to make compromises for a job and a career. Even those with ‘successful’ careers have their share of both rewards and disappointments.

So, how can you work out when to shake it off (hat tips to Taylor Swift), or when, instead, to stand up and say: “that’s unacceptable”?

Especially in hierarchical workplaces with unequal distribution of power and authority. You could end up with fewer opportunities, fewer allies, or worse. You could find yourself without a job.

This is a decision only you can make. You are the boss of your boundaries.

But if you feel you’re becoming a shadow of your former self or someone you don’t like, then I’d suggest you are putting up with boundary violations that are worth protesting about.

Some indignities cannot and should not be traded off. It’s not worth it in the long run.

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