As Schools have more or less fully reopened, this brings some sense of “structure” to our seemingly uncertain, uneasy world. And as we begin to bring staff back to into offices safely over the coming months as we have come to realise that these “interesting times” are likely to be with us for some time yet. I see and hear anecdotally that we have accepted that we must continue to find ways to adapt. While the form that adapt and accept takes will be different for each of us one thing is true for all of us: we must focus on what we can control, be mindful of determining what that is, and set boundaries.
What does setting boundaries mean?
It means being very aware of and deciding what is most important for you personally as well as for your team or your organisation and then setting boundaries around each of these.
While some clients have been energised and refreshed and have taken time out to reinvent or reshape their business model, many are tired and weary. Most have worked harder in the pandemic climate than ever before. They are mentally and physically tired.
For those leaders (especially the Worriers, Controllers, Perfectionists, and People Pleasers out there) setting boundaries means putting “self” first. It’s only by putting on our own oxygen mask first that we are able to support others, creating and imagining new ways to maximise opportunities or rebuild our businesses.
There are three key steps to setting Boundaries.
Step 1 - Setting aside “Me” time; Me time can include exercise, meditation, watching TV. Whatever works for you to relax, unwind and recharge.
Step 2 - Setting aside Thinking time; taking time every day to think, to reorganise your thoughts to create, reflect and learn. Focused thinking time is essential for identifying the things we can control and to stay focused.
When presented with a challenge or concern ask yourself these three questions
1. How much of this problem or situation can I control?
2. How much of this problem or situation can I influence?
3. How much of this problem or situation can neither control nor influence?
Then control what you can, influence where you can and what you can neither control nor influence simply change how you think about it. LET IT GO
“I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.” Mark Twain
Step 3 Diary Management, we can only accomplish the first two steps is we do this one. Many years ago I facilitated time management courses. How ridiculous! Time is finite. There are always 24 hours in a day and 60 minutes in an hour. Time cannot be “managed”. It’s self-management that is the key to productivity and achievement.
We have the gift of 1440 minutes given to us every day. We need to manage the choices we make around how we prioritise those minutes. When reporting back on things that they had committed to but didn’t happen, I hear people say they didn’t have time and I always challenge that. Do you mean you didn’t have time or you didn’t make the time, because we always have enough time – it’s what we choose do with the time we have that is the problem. We are a consequence of the choices we make each day. We may not like or welcome many of the choices we have to make but we always have the ability to choose our response no matter the circumstances.
Back to boundaries. If we are not clear on what’s most important, then it’s easy to feel overwhelmed tired and unable to bring our A game to our business or personal life.
When we lack clear thinking and have no clear boundaries, we will easily lose time and energy on unimportant or easy things to do.
Patrick Lencioni in his book “The Advantage” talks about his simple but impactful approach to high performing leadership.
Step 1 - Create a cohesive Leadership Team
Have you the right people in the right roles doing the right things?
Step 2- Create Clarity
Have you created organisational and team purpose with great clarity on the roles and responsibilities?
Step 3 - Over communicate the Clarity
Do your organisational systems and processes enable clarity, particularly around accountability and feedback?
Step 4 - Reinforce the Clarity
Do you set clear boundaries and model good selfcare, enabling clear thinking, timely and wise decisions and behaviours aligned with your values?
I’ve added Step 5 – Repeat as required!
These Interesting times are here to stay indefinitely. Make sure you are clear of your boundaries for both the businesses you lead and in your personal life.
I don’t recall hearing of anyone at the end of their life say “I wish I’d spent more time in work.” Set Boundaries and use your 1440 minutes each day wisely.
Kate Marshall