Boundaries Make All the Difference
In our last blog, we discussed some of our favorite tips and tricks for avoiding burnout, in the accounting world and beyond. One of the most important is maintaining boundaries–so important that when we were writing the last edition we knew we’d need a separate blog devoted just to this topic!
Now, let’s be honest. This word has developed a bit of a negative connotation over the last few years. Some have latched onto “boundaries” as an excuse for being a…let’s call it a selfish jerk (instead of some more colorful language). That is not what we’re talking about here! We think well-communicated boundaries are key to establishing productive professional relationships, and will set off a waterfall of positive effects.
Let’s discuss why:
Good boundaries start with setting expectations. You can’t set boundaries with clients, employees, or coworkers if you don’t know who is responsible for what. So, creating boundaries will prompt a critical conversation about what work needs to be done, by whom, when, how fast, what inputs the responsible party needs to produce the desired output, etc.
Clear expectations beget goals. When you lack boundaries with clients and coworkers, the more nebulous the work is and the harder it is to know where you’re going. But when you clearly understand expectations, you can set measurable, achievable goals. This means that when we know what our scope is–and is not–we can develop a clearer path to success.
It’s counterproductive to be available all the time. Expecting ourselves, or our employees, to be available 24/7 is the fastest way to develop burnout. And as we all know, burnout quickly leads to overwhelm and an inability to do a good job. Setting boundaries around what we will (or won’t) do, and when we will (or will not) do it, actually enhances our ability to do our jobs well. Boundaries lead to a better end result.
So now that we're all on board with WHY boundaries are important, let's discuss the HOW:
Clearly communicate your working hours and OOO dates. This is HUGE, but many people neglect this first step. Include your working hours in your first email to a new client. Put it in your email signature, your public calendar, and your scheduling link. The same goes with your OOO dates–add those as early as possible, and send specific correspondence to clients and stakeholders letting them know the days you’ll be out, when they can expect to hear from you again, and who to contact in case of an emergency. Then, send a few reminders in many forms–email, during check-in meetings, etc.
Hold yourself accountable. Once you’ve communicated your hours and your days off–stick to them! If you have been saying for the past month that you will be in the wilderness with no cell reception for 4 days, but then respond to an email, it’s like a sad office version of The Boy Who Cried Wolf. And the next time you’re supposed to be out, your clients or employees are more likely to expect a response.
Schedule blocking. Repeat after us: “I control my schedule. My schedule does not control me.” Actively managing your calendar is great way to establish boundaries to create space for meaningful work. It’s hard to get into a mental flow when you’re stopping every hour for a meeting, so block time off for “deep work.” If possible, consider only scheduling meetings on certain days of the week. This leaves longer stretches of time to complete projects, with an added bonus of not having to be camera ready every single day. 😉
Qualify your “yes.” To create positive professional outcomes, boundaries cannot simply become a list of reasons to say “no.” What it actually does is empower a truly productive “yes.” Because once you know your limits, you will know how to effectively pivot–without falling back into burnout, resentment, or things falling through the cracks. So instead of, “Yes, I can do that! (even though I'm really overwhelmed and actually can't and OMG when will I get this done??)” or “No, I can’t work on that project this week because my workload is already full,” you can say: “Yes! I can absolutely pick up this urgent request, would you prefer I bump X or Y to make room this week?”
Respect others' boundaries. Lastly, we’ll repeat an item from our last post because it’s worth repeating: Make sure you respect other people’s boundaries both because it’s the right thing to do, and it will encourage them to respect yours.
If your small business is looking for an accountant who understands how to set expectations to help you manage your own boundaries and achieve your goals, contact us. We’d love to discuss how our unique approach to small business advising gives you peace of mind.
Or, if you're an accountant looking to take more control over your career, visit breakawayba.com/become-an-advisor.
