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This week's newsletter is like Tom Cruise...

Short and Potent! 😎

And it's all about Emotional Boundaries.

These types of boundaries ensure we get our needs met and contribute to us remaining strong and performing at work. These needs may be feelings of emotional safety, or feeling included or valued. We uphold these values by communicating when we are uncomfortable, when we need support or by being clear on what we will or won’t tolerate in terms of behaviour toward or around us. This can look like:

• Conversations you will/ won’t engage in
• Mentoring, support structure, asking for help
• Creating opportunities for rest, space for healing

Here are some stories from the field...

Anyone for Toast?​
A powerful way to set emotional boundaries at the start of a meeting or workshop is by co-designing agreements. These guiding principles set the parameters for how we engage with each other, ensuring everyone feels seen, heard, and respected, especially when differences arise. Common agreements include presence, openness, listening, respect, and non-judgement.

At a recent workshop, a participant suggested discussing issues generically to avoid sensitivities related to different levels of seniority in the room. Recognising that the conversation might broach edgier topics, this agreement gained instant buy-in.

To add a fun element, the group agreed on a ‘safe word’ to remind everyone to keep things generic. Someone suggested ‘toast,’ and it became a playful yet effective tool for maintaining boundaries. Consequently, there was quite a bit of “toast” spoken that day!
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Don't Talk Shop in the Rest Room
​At a design agency some leaders recognised the high stress levels their team often experienced, especially during tight deadlines. To address this, they created a “Rest Room,” a space designed for relaxation and unwinding. It featured comfortable seating, soothing colours, and a strict no-work-talk policy. Designers could retreat there whenever they needed a break, respecting their emotional need for rest and recovery.

This initiative not only improved overall well-being but also boosted productivity, as team members returned to work feeling refreshed and valued.

The key takeaways of emotional boundaries are being able to name them, meeting and respecting differences in others, and adhering to those boundaries early and often. All it takes is awareness and willingness. So...

You’ve got this.

Love,

PS. Next week we'll focus on intellectual boundaries. 🧠

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