Protect Your Boundaries When Your Company Is Struggling

When your company is having a tough time, you might feel compelled to work longer hours in an attempt to help right the ship. But if you're not careful, your valiant efforts could lead to burnout. Here’s how to strike a balance between being loyal to your company and to yourself.  

Get specifics before taking on new assignments. Make sure you understand: What’s the objective? How will success be measured? What exactly will be required of you? How many hours will it take? Once you have a clear understanding of the expectations, then you can confidently decide if it’s a good match.  

Graciously decline new roles if your primary responsibilities will suffer. The key is to focus on why saying no is in the best interests of everyone involved. You might say something like, “If I devote time to marketing at this juncture, it will take away from my ability to focus on revenue generation, which is critical to all of us.”  

Find small ways to protect your time—and communicate those boundaries clearly. Block time on your calendar for focused work, and decide which meetings are most valuable for you to attend. Most importantly, proactively share your schedule to manage people’s expectations. Limiting your availability can be difficult when your company is struggling, so communication is key.

This tip is adapted from “How to Protect Your Boundaries When Your Company Is Struggling,” by Susan Peppercorn