Boundaries in Project Management
Ever feel like boundaries are for everyone else, but not possible for you?
As project managers we often feel like we have to:
➡ Drop everything to attend a last minute meeting.
➡ Respond to all messages from everyone, immediately.
➡ Put up with bad behavior in the name of “showing empathy.”
➡ Have perfect attendance so we don’t miss anything important (I’m looking at all of the project managers who have dialed into meetings while on vacation.)
The struggle is real.
❓ So what is your best bet for being an on point project manager AND maintaining your self-respect?
It’s simple --
💡 Set clear expectations at the front end of the project.
This looks like:
✅ Being clear about when you are available.
✅ Being clear about how you can be contacted.
✅ Being clear about your expected response times.
✅ Documenting the above in your project’s communication plan.
PRO TIP: Discuss the above with your manager before the project begins to make sure you are on the same page.
How do you create and enforce boundaries?