How to set boundaries with your boss How to set boundaries with your boss - Glassdoor Blog

This post was originally authored by writer and career coach, Stacy Pollack.

Not everyone who steps into a managerial role possesses the skills and insights needed to lead an effective team.  When individual contributors rise to leadership roles without the required foundational skills, team members often find themselves dealing with an ill-equipped manager. If you have a problematic manager, consider these solutions for establishing healthy work boundaries.

Work boundaries examples

There are both passive and active approaches to establishing healthy boundaries with a manager or coworkers.  Passive work boundaries might include using technology to gently indicate when you are unavailable, such as silencing Slack notifications or text messages during your off-hours. Active boundaries require communication, such as having a conversation with your manager about how or when off-hours communication is warranted, and how you like to be managed.

Keep in mind: It’s easier to establish work boundaries at the beginning of a new relationship, as opposed to months or years into a job. When starting a new position, or meeting a new manager for the first time, try to have an honest conversation about your needs as an employee. 

If you’ve been dealing with a boss who doesn’t understand boundaries for an extended period of time, consider reaching out to your human resources team about crafting the boundaries you need.

Creating workplace boundaries with a micromanager

Dealing with a micromanager is never a good feeling, especially for those seeking autonomy in their work. If you’re dealing with a manager who refuses to loosen their grip, create boundaries between by reducing the opportunities for them to intervene.

If you have a project you’re working on, rather than asking them how and when to execute a task, do the work, and update them on it later. If you know that they tend to overpower you in meetings, consider setting the meeting yourself, and always come prepared with an agenda that will allow you to lead the conversation. Consider only providing updates to them when absolutely needed. It is also important to let your boss know exactly how you enjoy being managed, as they may be totally unaware of your own working style.

Healthy boundaries at work beyond working hours

Unfortunately, there are many industries that don’t allow you to ever “turn off.”  With the ease of technology, we are expected to respond to emails at all hours of the day, but that can lead to burnout. It is up to you to create firm boundaries around what you are willing to accept when it comes to your time commitments outside of working hours.

If a boss constantly calls you outside of your working hours, simply don’t respond. You’re not obliged to answer their calls, nor are you obliged to answer their emails. While this may seem scary, you will set the tone for how your boss treats you. If you have a client who’s calling you late at night, simply follow up with a text or email letting them know when it’s appropriate to call.

If you find yourself in a situation where your working hours are constantly being abused, it is up to you to set your own boundaries and say no.

Setting boundaries with coworkers around unreasonable requests

Your manager might assign you something larger than you can chew as an act of good faith in your abilities, or even as a stretch assignment. Self-awareness, in this case, is important as you don’t want to turn down work that could help you grow, but also don’t want to set yourself up for failure. When your work world shifts, it’s important to maintain balance. If you’re constantly being asked to do work that is out of scope, let your manager know you’re feeling ill-prepared, and would appreciate some help or further training.

Establishing professional boundaries

Some people prefer to have close, personal friendships with their teams, which is perfectly okay. However, if you prefer to keep the relationship professional, and your boss insists on getting personal, you may have to create some boundaries. Do your best not to share personal information while at work. Steer clear of conversations about friends, family, and relationships. Don’t socialize more than necessary and keep your focus on task-related conversations.

Setting boundaries at work with a rude boss

Unfortunately, you may find yourself in a situation where your manager is just not nice. Don’t try and be rude back, rather keep your distance, and detach from the relationship as much as possible. Keep your conversations short and minimal and focus on the work. Remind yourself that you won’t have this boss forever, and if need be, explore the potential of switching teams completely if things get bad.

Key phrases to set workplace boundaries

A hard “no” may not sit well with your manager, but there are plenty of softer ways to communicate your needs to your boss. Using your voice to articulate your needs can make a world of difference in creating work-life balance. Consider some of these phrases when trying to set boundaries at work: