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In episode 129 of “The JoyPowered® Workspace Podcast,” JoDee and Susan discuss setting boundaries with Sarah Ohanesian, founder of SO Productive.

So often, we think of boundaries as harsh and rigid rules. Sarah encourages people to think of them more as a set of parameters or guidelines for yourself that you can easily share with others. Boundaries are a personal thing, so what boundaries you should have depends on what’s bothering you. Think about your relationships, time, and team and work expectations; the things you’re procrastinating about, dreading, or complaining about are likely areas where you’re lacking boundaries.

It’s easy to have boundaries, but not always easy to stick to them, because they become attached to emotions and many of us are people pleasers, so it can be difficult to communicate our boundaries. But keep in mind that having a boundary doesn’t make you mean – if you’re clear on your boundaries and you’re communicating them well, you manage people’s expectations, and they’ll often respect you more for having them.

Guilt also makes boundaries challenging; many of us feel guilty saying no to someone. You can’t be as effective if you’re saying yes to everything, so it’s important to manage that guilt. Remember even if you’re stewing in guilt, the other person has probably already moved on. Delivering the message well and recommending another solution, person, timeframe, or time commitment is helpful. And you don’t have to explain yourself, but if it helps with the guilt, it’s appropriate to explain why you have that boundary.

In this episode’s listener mail, a listener asks about strategies for educating the C-suite about the value of diversity. In the news, it’s important to be prepared for a Department of Labor audit given all the changes in the past couple years with minimum wage laws, COVID changes, remote work, and independent contractor rules.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Purple Ink
• Susan Tinder White Consulting
• HR Indiana SHRM Conference
• SO Productive
• The Heroic Council Podcast
• SO Productive on Instagram
• Sarah on LinkedIn
• ”Employers Should Be Prepared for a DOL Wage and Hour Audit”

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