Understanding the role of boundaries as a business owner is part of the process. Once you understand which boundaries you want to set, you need to decide the best place to communicate them and how to maintain or uphold your boundaries when they are crossed.
Here is quick guide to the best places for communicating boundaries as an entrepreneur.
Contracts & Service Agreements
This is my number 1, top recommendation, best place ever to set a boundary. You can literally write anything into a contract. I don't say that to give you carte blanche and put in the most ridiculous requirements, but I do say it to free your limiting beliefs around what should go into a contract. Yes, you need the legalease of lawyer jargon clauses and amendments, but you can also add in your own paragraphs for boundaries.
Some boundaries that you can communicate through contract and service agreements (whether you're a coach or a service provider) are boundaries around communication, project scope, social media, urgency, and availability.
The top reason I love contracts and agreements as the foundation for boundaries is that the client actively agrees to the boundary. So if (and hopefully not when) a boundary is crossed, you can reference the contract as your bouncer, backup boss! This isn't the case when you've set boundaries in other places (which I'll get to below).
So any strong boundary you want to hold with clients, definitely put it into your contract.
Welcome packets for new clients
This is my second fave place for establishing boundaries. After someone has decided to work with you, a welcome packet is a perfect place to set expectations and line out communication platforms, turnaround times, etc.
Why? Because they just invested a few bennies to work with you and generally they want to get the most out of it. That is why this first point of communication serves as fertile ground for planting boundaries.
Some other places to set boundaries include:
Stated policies on your website
Sales materials
FAQs
Proposals
Code of Conduct Forms
Communication channels (think pinned posts in Slack or in your course platform)
Reinforcing them during coaching calls
Referring to them during onboarding calls and sales conversations.
There are many options to choose from when setting boundaries as an entrepreneur.
As an added tip, I recommend you consistently (and kindly) reiterate the boundaries you've established. Think of this as a friendly reminder, and not a strong ole' scolding. It can be as simple as "Remember, once you submit your content for review, it can take up to 2 business days for me to respond." And that way your "I need it yesterday" client won't be pinging you 12 hours later for your response.
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