4 Responses When “Boundary Predators” Stalk

Boundary violators exist in all realms of life, but at work, they can be especially troubling. What can you do to set and maintain limits?

The boss that continually intrudes on your personal time, the client who demands more than you agreed to, or the team leader who piles a majority of their work on you…these are all what Priscilla Claman, president of Boston-based Career Strategies Inc., calls “boundary predators.” Writing in the Harvard Business Review, Claman explains, “Boundary predators rely on their power and authority — and your passivity — to get what they want. It’s up to you to push back by understanding how to create boundaries and maintain them.”

She offers these 4 strategies:

1. Have an agreement up front:  This means that everyone consents to terms ahead of time, and everyone understands objectives and expectations. (“I have a hard stop at 5 PM today, and I can tackle the rest tomorrow morning.”) 
2. Be wary of “scope creep”: This is when you're asked to do more than you've signed up for. At times it is fine to concede, but it may be necessary to reset your original boundary bargain. (“I am happy to do it for you this time, and going forward I can show someone on your staff how to do it.”
3. Ask questions: Ask clarifying questions before committing to additional assignments. Keep the questions open-ended, so you’ll be able to gather more information without being perceived as negative.
4. When you decline, don't give a parade of reasons.  Over-explanation will not help you. Too much explanation can lead to the appearance of insecurity and defensiveness.

What do you do when someone oversteps your boundaries? To join the conversation, click on "comments" above -- we'd love to hear from you!

Learn more about creating a habit around masterful communication with our online learning courses awarded International Gold for Best Hybrid Learning of 2022.

---