Last week I was meeting with a senior business leader to discuss the prospect of building on the employer brand for an organisation. Three powerful lessons emerged for me.
1. “I am not available after 7.00 pm” – Draw clear boundaries around what works for you.
2. Build a body of work, then talk about it – First do then speak.
3. Roll up my sleeves and go deep into a subject – Don’t skim the surface, depth is defining.
I can afford to draw boundaries when what I do within my working hours is so powerful that I have created something unique and valuable. A lunch meeting with another senior leader who had just joined a new company reinforced this idea. He observed that the values of the company talked about respect for employees. However, there seemed to be a culture of holding meetings late in the night which was incongruent with this value. He dared to decline a meeting from a peer and point this out to the group. To his good fortune, his boss backed him and maybe he will be the wind of change that helps this group walk the talk and set some boundaries. What gives him this leverage is his body of strong and credible work that made the company hire him in the first place.
Ironically setting boundaries seems to be the privilege of those who colour outside the lines and create extraordinary value. When you are really good at something and you know it, you know where you want to focus your energy. It is only at this point that you stop seeking awards and rewards but focus on the work itself instead. Many a time the recognition follows those that are not in search of it. Boundaries are simply a way to protect what is important and allow time and energy to build on these things. The boundary wall keeps the distractions and the detractors at bay. One step at a time. One day at a time. Doing my life’s work and enjoying the journey.
Time to score a boundary: If this makes any sense to you take an inventory of how and where you spend your time. We have 4 months left in this calendar year, get set for 2024. Live intentionality. Live authentically. Make some hard choices. Make some smart choices.
A good a time as any to set some boundaries.
The views and opinions published here belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the publisher.
A trusted coaching and communications professional, Nikhil Dey is a certified life and leadership coach (International Coach Federation - ICF). Nurturing talent and helping clients achieve their goals is what makes him happy. He loves learning from students of communication, teaching courses and guest lecturing at various educational institutions. When he is not working you will find him on the tennis court or out for long walks with his family and four legged friends.
Previously he has held senior leadership positions at Weber Shandwick and Genesis BCW.
He can be reached on twitter @deydreaming
Be the first to comment on "What are you growing within your boundary walls?"