It happens to all of us. One client asks you to do a small task that’s out of your zone of expertise and you freeze.
Do you say yes? Do you tell them off?
Look, it’s not easy telling people no or taking time to set healthy boundaries. You don’t want to come across as rude or inconsiderate. And you might think doing that extra task is no big deal. That they will really appreciate it.
But, then it becomes another task. And another. Until you’re doing basically everything and anything under the sun when you didn’t sign up for that.
So, as hard as it may be, you have to put your foot down. Creating healthy boundaries for your business (a.k.a Business Boundaries) will benefit both you and your customers in the long run, avoid resentment towards your clients, and preserve your energy for you to stay connected and aligned with your business. Read on to see how you can learn to say no and start creating healthy boundaries in your online business.
How to Set Healthy Boundaries in Your Business
1. Know where your line of expertise ends
There’s this whole “fake it till you make it” mentality that you have to be good at everything to be successful. Trying to squeeze everything under one umbrella will eventually be too much to handle. At some point, you’ve gotta give yourself an endzone so that you don’t burn out or create resentment towards your clients.
Knowing your boundaries of what you offer and where your line of expertise ends will help to keep a healthy relationship with your clients and yourself. In my most recent podcast, guest speaker Karen Shannon and I get into the nitty-gritty of why faking it isn’t getting you anything but a headache. Knowing where that line ends will allow you to:
- Create a relationship with the client
- Create a relationship with the referral
- Create a stronger integrity in your business
Get clear on what you do, what you offer and who you want to work with. Draw the line somewhere that feels comfortable for you. And stick to it!
2. Say “no” in a productive way
It might seem like a great idea to go the extra mile for your clients – and in some cases, it is. But, when it only benefits one side, is it really a good thing? Your time and energy are worth a price and you don’t want a client to take advantage of these things. Instead, you can say no in a productive way and redirect your customers to guide them to a different solution. This way, you’re not leaving them hanging and still preserving your value. Try one of these productive ways to create healthy boundaries with clients that benefit both sides:
- Refer them to another expert: give them a name or tell them to reach out to someone else that you might know in that field of work. They will appreciate your advice.
- Explain the value in the work you provide; You’re an expert in what you do for a reason. If you stray away from that, you lose the momentum to create something worthwhile.
- Remind them not to put all their eggs in one basket: Don’t let them settle their business on one person. It takes a village and getting the best support for each challenge will help them achieve their goals faster.
3. Give yourself grace
WE can really be the hardest on ourselves. We want to challenge and push ourselves because we know we are capable of doing more. But, as the saying goes, sometimes less is more. And if you try to throw yourself into every category as a business owner, you’re going to stretch yourself thin and hurt your work life balance. In turn, you lose that spark and passion that goes into the parts of your business that you actually enjoy.
So, remind yourself that what you bring to the table and what you have to offer is enough. It’s more than enough for you to be successful and an expert in your field.
I know how hard it can be to solidify boundaries when you’re used to being that go-to person all of the time. It’s taken a lot of experiences in my business to learn that. This is why I’m helping my clients define their line of expertise and giving them the support and accountability to build a business they are proud of in my Ready To Conquer! Group Coaching program.
Your enrollment in this program gets you:
- Weekly live coaching calls to get answers to your questions and give you the fuel to keep going.
- Quarterly planning intensive to keep you on track and stay in your line of expertise.
- A private Facebook group offers additional support, community and accountability.
- And more!
Here’s to building healthy boundaries in your business! Click the link to get on a free call with me to see how you can get started today!
