Kingstown College Coaching Magazine vol.5 2019/2020

14 Coaching Magazine Vol.5
Setting Boundaries at Work
Executive Coach and Kingstown College faculty member Judith Spring explains
why we find if so difficult to set boundaries, and how the absence of them can
effect physical and mental health. Judith also suggests some approaches for
individuals and coaches to draw the line.
Once boundaries
have been
established,
don’t assume
people will just
work them out;
communicate
them clearly..
Having boundaries between work
and your life outside of this space is
essential to maintain your physical and
mental health.
‘Tell me about your boundaries’ is a
question I often ask clients who are
struggling with work-related stress
or burn-out. Most often, they will
sheepishly admit that they had not set
any – or further, hadn’t even thought
about them at all.
While we all generally acknowledge
and agree with the idea of putting
in a “fair day’s work for a fair day’s
pay”, this doesn’t need to preclude us
from putting defined limits on what
we consider is “fair”. Boundaries are
knowing and understanding what your
limits are – where you end and work
begins.
The impacts of not setting and
maintaining boundaries can creep
up slowly. Continuously looking after
others ahead of ourselves, working
excessive hours, and taking on
additional work ultimately leave us
feeling exhausted. Often times, these
feelings of exhaustion are coupled with
resentment. Feeling that others don’t
appreciate the effort we are putting in
further compounds the impact. When