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When I was sailing on ships, one of the key skills I learned 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, fuel capacity, 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 go to avoid any damage
These areas include shallow waters, old shipwrecks, rocks & reefs, areas that have not been surveyed, etc
These NO-GO areas have to be clearly identified, marked & avoided by a safe distance
Because as a leader, you need to set clear boundaries at the workplace
Your NO-GO areas
What will you say NO to
What is acceptable and what is not
These could be related to time, behaviors, privacy, or information
These could be physical, social, or emotional
This is 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 a 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
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 of 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?
PS : Whenever you are ready to push yourself outside your comfort zone and create new possibilities in life,
you can book a short exploratory call here ( Book Your Call )
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