Setting Boundaries With Remote Communication Tools

Are your boundaries truly clear, or are they simply unspoken? We often get frustrated with others, but sometimes the real issue is that we haven’t clearly set or enforced our own boundaries. In many situations, frustration stems not from someone overstepping but from our own lack of communication about what we’re comfortable with. I once worked with someone whose boss would consistently call after hours with ideas. They were frustrated by the lack of boundaries but realized they’d never actually had a conversation about it. Here’s what I suggested: Have the conversation. Make sure both parties are on the same page about after-hours communication. Let it go to voicemail. Listen and assess whether the message needs immediate attention or if it can wait until the next business day. Acknowledge the message later. The next day, thank them for the call, then politely remind them of your commitment to balancing work and personal time. By setting clear boundaries and holding firm to them, you not only respect your own time, but you also model how others should respect it too. Setting boundaries is essential for sustainable success. When we don’t set clear boundaries, we end up feeling overwhelmed and disconnected from the things that matter most. #personaldevelopment  #communication 

I've been working remotely for 10+ years, and I've never regretted setting clear boundaries around... ↳ Blocking my calendar for deep work ↳ Saying "no" to non-essential meetings ↳ Logging off for lunch without my phone ↳ Turning off Slack notifications after 5PM ↳ Setting clear expectations for response times ↳ Taking a full day off when I feel burnout creeping in ↳ Communicating my work hours upfront with my team If you're working remotely or leading a distributed team: It's okay to set boundaries that protect your focus, energy, and well-being. This is a sign of strength, not weakness. And I'd encourage my team to do the same. When you establish clear boundaries, you build the mental clarity and resilience needed to deliver your best work consistently. Remote work thrives on trust and autonomy. The more intentional we are about protecting our time and energy, the better we can collaborate, innovate, and grow together. ————— ♻️ Repost for anyone who needs this reminder. 🔔 Follow me (Stuart Hahn) for more content like this. What's one boundary you've set that made a difference? Let me know in the comments!

My 2 Cents… Your Phone Has Boundaries—Do You? A clinical supervisor I work with recently told me she was considering resigning—not because she didn’t love her job, but because the job never stopped. She was always on. Always available. Always the go-to. And guess what? It wasn’t just because her team needed her—it was because she had unintentionally tethered herself to work. Here’s the reality: If you’re the only one with the answers, it’s not just a leadership issue—it’s a boundary issue. So, I gave her a few simple but effective strategies using the technology she already has to create better work-life boundaries: 📵 Use “Focus Mode” and “Do Not Disturb” – Your phone has an off switch, so why aren’t you using it? Set auto-replies outside of work hours. That “urgent” text? It can wait. 📆 Schedule Send Emails – If you’re working late, great. But don’t train your team to expect 10 PM emails. Schedule them to send during working hours so you don’t create the culture you’re trying to escape. 📌 Create an Office KOP (Knowledge & Operations Page) – If you’re the human search engine of your department, it’s time to decentralize knowledge. A shared document with FAQs, protocols, and resources saves you from answering the same questions 100 times. 👥 Delegate & Empower Your Team – If your team thinks only you have the answers, you’ve set that expectation. Redirect questions, give people ownership, and let them figure things out. She started implementing these changes, and guess what? She didn’t need to resign—she needed to disconnect. Technology is a tool, not a leash. Use it to support your work, not control your life. Have you used tech to set boundaries at work? What’s been the most effective strategy for you? Add your 2 cents below #Leadership #WorkLifeBalance #Boundaries #NurseLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence