Boundaries help people feel safe. Aim is to ensure there is a shared understanding and an agreement to ‘stick to the agreement’!
- Clear, upfront, open communication
- Be consistent
- Keep them simple
- Expect them to be tested
- Take responsibility for your own reactions
- Allow flexibility if there needs to be a compromise, but do so slowly and do not agree to something that does not feel right
Signs people may be struggling with personal and professional boundaries:
- Find it difficult to ‘speak up’ and express an opinion
- Find it hard to say ‘no’
- Over give of your time and then struggle to manage the demands it places on you
- Feel taken for granted by others
- Over-share details about their life with others
- Experience fear about what others think of them
- Feel like a victim
- Belief you have to ‘earn’ respect by being nice
- Permit people to touch you when it makes you feel uncomfortable
- Feel guilty about taking time for yourself
- Out of touch with your own needs
- Make too many sacrifices for others to the detriment of yourself
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