A message from Sandy. Ideally, workplace boundaries are talked about in an open discussion about responsibilities, goals, priorities before starting a new job. Even if that type of understanding was discussed, after years of employment, doesn’t it deserve to be revisited? Things change. Do you still have the same expectations of your team as you did when you hired them? I hope not, besides it’s never to late to improve interactions with the team. Here are a couple of core skills that will help get you started:

Know your limits: what you can do well within the allotted timeframe.

Don’t exaggerate your abilities by overselling them. Be certain you are fully aware of what requirements and skills are needed to complete a task. Give accurate estimates about what you can realistically get done. Completing your task on time will improve your credibility, while missing deadlines, or a partially finished task with a laundry list of excuses will only hurt your reputation. Follow through (or not) follows you everywhere!

Tactfully and openly communicate about goals and limitations.

Underselling prevents you from being able to demonstrate your professional skills, which may affect your career advancement or the opportunity to be successful at something new. Keep your focus on your positive intentions; ask for help when it’s needed to ensure good quality work; actively engage in problem solving, and don’t complain about the problem, ask for feedback when it’s not forthcoming.

Be available to discuss differences and reach agreements.

Reflect back on your understanding of the other person’s needs, interest, and concerns. Attempt to negotiate a win-win solution. Establishing boundaries and priorities go hand in hand because they both help manage interpersonal relationships in the workplace. Together they can go a long way toward establishing a productive work environment, based on trust.

I am sure you have many more of your own to add, the point being your team is ever evolving (or should be) for the better. Always striving for improvement. This is a great discussion to revisit at your yearly reviews. Isn’t it about that time of year?  (we all know those are getting done regularly–right?)