3 BOUNDARIES YOU NEED TO SET TO RECLAIM YOUR PEACE, PROFIT, AND PASSION IN YOUR COACHING OR SERVICE-BASED BUSINESS
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Dear entrepreneur, do you ever find yourself stuck on the never-ending hamster wheel of answering client messages at all hours of the day, sacrificing time with your family because a client is having their 10th ‘life or death emergency’ this week or feeling drained and overwhelmed because the day to day running of your business feels like it’s sucking the life out of you?
Well, fear not, because the solution to all your problems is here: boundaries!
Setting boundaries is a way to protect your sacred need for rest, creativity, and joy while still serving your clients with excellence. Today I’m unpacking three critical areas where boundaries can radically transform your business so you can reclaim your peace, profit, and passion this year. This article could save you numerous mental breakdowns. Because let’s face it, therapists are expensive. So grab a cuppa and let’s dig in.
PROTECT YOUR PEACE: MASTERING THE ART OF AVAILABILITY BOUNDARIES
As an entrepreneur, it’s so easy to fall into the trap of being available 24/7.
* Sometimes we forget that we’re running businesses and not manning a national crisis hotline.
However, when we don’t protect our most sacred and valuable resource – our time – we risk burnout, stress, and the horror of not actually getting anything meaningful done to move our businesses forward.
In light of this, the first boundary I recommend you set is around your availability. It’s essential to decide when you’re available, communicate this to clients, and stick with it.
Here’s a truth bomb I would have sold a kidney to have uncovered sooner – you don’t need to be on call 24/7 or glued to your phone or laptop to deliver a mind-blowing result to your clients. In fact, being glued to emails and social media inboxes all day is a surefire way to ensure that you’re not moving your business forward – and that you’re opening the door to attract needy co-dependent clients. (You know, the kinds of clients who send 3000 emails a day like they’re getting paid per keystroke.)
Clarifying this boundary is actually pretty simple.
Let your clients know when they can expect a response from you and when they can’t. Then use time-blocking techniques to batch schedule your admin and communication work and reduce the urge to check your messages constantly.
For example, you can set aside 30 minutes in the morning, noon, and late afternoon to reply to emails or messages. You can also use tools like Gmail’s Schedule Send to send messages at a specific time.
(Just because you’re working on your inbox at 1 am doesn’t mean your clients have permission to message you then. Ahem.)
Protecting your sacred time allows you to recharge, focus on what’s important, and show up as your best self for your clients.
I also recommend blocking off time each day for your ‘tight bubble of total focus.’ This is usually a 90-120 minute block in my schedule that I reserve to work on the most essential needle-moving projects in my business. I structure my schedule in a way that allows me to make consistent progress on my essential projects without getting distracted or operating from a reactive state by ensuring that I don’t make myself available to answer messages all day.
Want to know something pretty messed up? According to a study by RescueTime, the average worker checks their email 74 times per day.
Seventy. Four. Times.
Read that again.
If you’re operating this way you’re losing focus and flow when you’re constantly switching between tasks. Switching between tasks can cost you as much as 40% of your productivity. So be intentional with your time, and don’t be afraid to say no when you need to.
Don’t believe me when I tell you what a fck up this is? Check out the graphic below:
P.S. – Doing this one exercise alone could buy back 4 hours in your day.
ELEVATE YOUR OFFER: SETTING BOUNDARIES THAT SERVE YOUR CLIENTS AND YOUR BUSINESS
As a coach or service-based business owner, you provide a valuable service and transformation to your clients. But it’s essential to define the boundaries around what is included in your offer package. You’ve got to get clear on how much access your clients have to you and what is considered in scope versus out of scope.
The last thing you want is the resentment that comes from dealing with a client that expects unlimited access to your entire life and brain for the price of a Starbucks latte.
The fix?
Clearly communicate what is and what isn’t included in your offer, and make sure it’s documented in a rock-solid contract and terms of service. This will help you avoid misunderstandings on both ends and support you to protect your boundaries.
For example, if you’re a website designer, you can create a contract that outlines what your client will get for a specific price. You can specify how many revisions are included, how much training is included, and what is considered out of scope. If a client wants additional services or more access to you, you can offer them at an additional cost.
The key to happy client relationships is to clearly, and fairly communicate these guidelines upfront so there are no surprises down the line.
SECURE YOUR PROFIT: CREATING BOUNDARIES THAT SUPPORT HEALTHY PAYMENT PRACTICES
Real talk. Setting boundaries around payments is crucial if you want to run a profitable and sustainable business. Decide how your clients will pay and stick with it. No exceptions. Not even for friends and family.
*Especially not for friends and family.
I recommend using a third-party payment processing system that will automate your client payment plans by regularly charging their account and help you track and recover unpaid invoices. When it comes to getting paid, I don’t work on an honesty policy with clients. Hoping your clients will pay isn’t a strategy – and at the end of the day if you’re running a business and not a charity – maintaining your cash flow is critical. This is non-negotiable.
What happens when you’re operating with sloppy boundaries when it comes to payments?
This:
According to a study by Fundbox, small business owners spend an average of 13 hours per month chasing unpaid invoices.
Fun times.
That’s 13 hours that could be spent on growing your business, serving your clients, or digging into a gorgeous novel on the beach. So don’t be afraid to set clear payment boundaries and enforce them.
PROTECT YOUR SACRED NEEDS: COMMUNICATING CLEAR BOUNDARIES WITH CLIENTS TO HONOR YOUR SELF-CARE
Setting boundaries isn’t just about protecting your time, services and your sanity. It’s also about protecting your needs as a human being. Remember that underneath the entrepreneur hat is an actual human with real-life human needs. (Like needing to pee between client sessions).
Whether you need time for self-care, family, hobbies, or creative pursuits, it’s essential to communicate these needs clearly to your clients at the start of your relationship by setting the appropriate boundaries. These boundaries allow you to show up as your authentic self, honor your values, and attract clients who align with your vision.
As you set and communicate your boundaries, it’s imperative that you document them in a rock-solid contract and terms of service. Your contract should include your working hours, services, payment policies, and other boundaries you’ve established. This protects both you and your clients from misunderstandings, miscommunications, or legal issues down the line.
When it comes to client disputes – your contract is the bad cop so you don’t have to be.
Need a solid legally-backed contract? Check out The Contract Shop here.
IN SUMMARY
A boundary is a self-loving way to protect your needs while showing up powerfully for your clients.
Boundaries are essential if you want to maintain your peace, profitability and passion and delivery outstanding support to your clients.
A clear contract and terms of service is your best friend in business.
JOURNALING & REFLECTION
Here are some of my favorite reflection questions from today’s topic:
* What boundaries do you currently have in place in your coaching or service-based business?
* Are there any areas where you need to set clearer boundaries?
* How can you communicate your boundaries more effectively to your clients?
* What steps can you take to ensure that you’re honoring your sacred needs in your work?
* What changes can you make to your business to create a healthier work-life balance?
Meet The Author
I am a luxury business strategist and writer with an Italian cappuccino fetish and a 3-day work-week. With a personal love for indulgence and the finer things in life, I’ve seamlessly blended my passion for dissecting profitable businesses with the art of curating a life of pleasure. My obsession? Unraveling the DNA of success and happiness while teaching you how to beautifully disrupt the norm by crafting a business and life that you can’t wait to wake up to on a Monday morning.
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