Managing the Always On Business World- Communicating Boundaries that Protect Your Productivity
When the going gets tough… the tough get going.
At least that’s what my dad always told me as a kid growing up. And it worked. It helped me out-hustle any hardship that came my way. Work ethic is an incredible skillset to have when you’re climbing the corporate ladder, working to provide financial stability for your family, and seeking success in your career.
But here’s my controversial take… the work ethic required of me in 2024 is different than the work ethic my dad needed to be successful back in 1994 when he was building his business (sorry dad).
Is work ethic harder to come by in 2024 than it was back then? No.
Is work ethic different in 2024 than it was in 1994? Absolutely.
Work ethic 30 years ago didn’t require always on notifications and responding to emails at all hours of the day and constantly being tied to your computer/phone/tablet.
Business in 2024 is always on.
Work in 1994 was left at work the minute you stepped outside the office. You were lucky if you caught someone with their pager.
But in 2024? Ding. ding. Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding. Notifications after notification after phone call after email after email after notification.
The way we do business - and our work ethic - in today’s business world has evolved and therefore it needs to be re-defined.
Business will always work to squeeze as much productivity out of the resources (aka you, the employee) it has in order to grow the bottom line. That means business will be ON all hours of the day, every day of the year and it will ALWAYS be looking for the cheaper, more cost effective option.
We need to talk about the repercussions of the 24/7 always on business model – always online, always available, always working, and information overload. Communication during the global pandemic and post pandemic has increased early morning and late evening communications across the board. And we never went back to pre-pandemic communication expectations.
That is HARD. It is a burden on the workforce at large and it is causing burnout. Which is counter to productivity. So it is on you and me, the employees contributing to the bottom line of the business, to set structure and (dare I say it) boundaries around how to communicate effectively in an ever-demanding, always on, remote working environment.
How to manage the always on business world: establish structure and communicate boundaries
My goal is to help you become effective communicators in the workplace and that includes being able to communicate boundaries.
Start here → let’s start with some questions to consider when defining what boundaries may look like to you -
What working hours are sustainable for you?
When are you able to respond to emails?
What hours of the day are best for taking meetings vs doing busy work?
What days would you like to request off for PTO?
How available are you to your coworkers? What about your clients?
Are you able to complete your workload on your own?
What tasks/projects do you need help with?
What personal events do you need to attend to during this season?
What are your financial goals/ commitments?
Does your job respect you + your needs?
Start small. Define 1 - 2 boundaries you feel comfortable defining in your job. Once you start to understand your own needs, you will be able to set a boundary
Next, start advocating for yourself in small doses.
Remember time is your most valuable asset - you will never get this time in your life back again. But work? That'll be there the minute you get back. Always. Remind yourself of this fleeting reminder whenever you are about to ask for time off or when you are about to check your phone at the dinner table.
Explicitly communicate expectations around time off and your work hours - Understand what time off means to you and your organization. Seek to figure out what working hours are acceptable at the company. Does your employer expect you to be on call? To be responding to emails 24/7? Are you able to fully disconnect when taking a personal day? Can you leave your phone/computer at home? What about email on your mobile? These are all essential questions to ask yourself (and your management team) to ensure expectations are clear and consistent.
Lead by example - If you are a manager responding to emails and slacks at all hours of the night, it will set the precedent that your team needs to be responding. (Bonus points for AI being able to let us schedule send after-hour messages). If you are scheduled to take time off yourself, do NOT respond to emails, slacks, or meeting requests. If you are always available, even while out of the office, it sets the tone and standard for others to always be available. This is true for both managers and individual contributors. This WILL results in a lack of trust and higher levels of burnout.
We are all learning how to operate in this new always on, 24/7 business world. It requires a different endurance of work ethic, it requires intentional communication skillsets, and it requires a ton of resilience. I’m here to help in any way I can!
