Happy New Year!

With 2021 now in the rearview mirror and 2022 is in front of us, it’s a great time to reflect and refocus.

2021 has been a challenging year and one of growth, opportunities, and new learnings that we can take to progress forward. 

Many of us worldwide were challenged with lockdowns; our constant uncertainty was driven by the pandemic, logistical business challenges, publishing my 3rd book, Gift Mindset® and working and delivering all of our services remotely.

Although last year was a challenging year and not without significant ups and downs, I’m proud to say the team and I at RG Dynamics have made it through to the other side. We have remained true to our purpose and intent, and that is to make workplaces better places to work. We do this by accelerating limitless leaders and teams, equipping them with key communication, and enabling leaders to lift performance, motivation and collaboration. 

We have passionately stayed in service to our amazing clients, existing and new, and we thank you for your support and commitment to learning and growth. We have shifted most of our programs online, and I published my 3rd book the International Award-Winning Gift Mindset® that has been the conduit to sharing a powerful message needed more than ever in the workplace. The audiobook will be available as you read this, which is exciting.

It’s been a huge year and one that has reinforced the importance of having a strong purpose. Ensuring we do the things that light us up and motivate us with the right support network has helped us stay on track and achieve what we set out to do.

2021 offered us many gifts, not always visible at the time, but when we adopt a Gift Mindset, we can unwrap the lessons we have learnt to progress ourselves and others forward. We hope there has been a Gift or two you have unwrapped this year. For me, it was the Gift of Growth, Resilience, Gratitude and Connection.

So here we are, heading into a new year – I thought I’d share some insight and thought provokers on setting BOUNDARIES to ensure you get the most out of 2022!

What are you choosing?

How exciting that we have the choice to make this year whatever we want it to be. Like writing a new chapter in a book, you choose the settings, the themes and the characters. The choices are all yours.

Hopefully, you have had some time to recharge and reset for the year ahead. It’s amazing what even a quick break can do as far as reflecting on what was and contemplating what will be.

Setting the scene for 2022

Brene Brown says, “Boundaries are simply what’s ok and what’s not ok”. 

To me, boundaries are like speed humps in the road; without them, we can lose control and could end up anywhere.

To have 20/20 vision, a term most commonly used to express normal visual acuity measured at a distance of 20 feet, means you can see clearly at 20 feet what should normally be seen at that distance.

Not setting boundaries and adhering to them can set us off course; it can cause unnecessary pain, distort our path, and influence others, especially if you are leading, to follow suit. Having boundaries both personally and professionally helps you bring your whole self to whatever you do; it paves the way for success, helps you measure where things are and keeps things real and relevant.

Take the time to:

• Set boundaries 
• Know your limits and what you don’t stand for:
  • emotional/physical/digital/personal/professional
• Build self-awareness of these boundaries
• Consider what has worked and what hasn’t in the past and present
• Measure them ongoing
• Get support to live by these
  • Friends, work colleagues and family
• Clearly communicate what these are
  • Let people know

Are your boundaries blurred?

A boundary that has become blurred for me, especially in the last two years, is my work-life balance or what I call a work-life blend (more integrated and achievable). This is an area many of our clients also find challenging, and this is usually due to not setting clear guidelines of what you will and won’t accept.

A boundary I have set is that I won’t (unless absolutely necessary) work on a Sunday, and I won’t take early Monday morning flights anymore (although in a weird way, I’ve missed them). This will ensure I make the time to recharge on weekends without anticipating work travel from midday on a Sunday. By flying at night instead of the early morning, my energy is up, and I’m more prepared to be in service to my clients the next day.

According to Gallup’s State of the American Workplace 2017, 53 per cent of employees said that a role that allows them to have greater work-life balance is “very important” to them. Workplace boundaries help you achieve and safeguard balance in their area. This is a great example of a need to set boundaries both in and out of work as one supports the other.

Boundaries come in many forms, and I’ve outlined 3 of the more obvious ones below:

Physical 

• This is all about your personal space and touch considerations.
• The rules you apply will define this for you and include things such as handshakes vs hugs at work, where you work from (office or remotely) and how and what you set up as your surroundings.

     Mental 

• Your thoughts, opinions and values are what will determine your mental boundaries.
• Be clear and adhere to the rules you set and avoid (when applicable) others ideas on influencing or changing this. Setting boundaries around your routine and how certain things may operate at work is an example of this.

    Emotional 

• This is all about getting in touch with your feelings and emotions. Setting boundaries around these can help you see the differences between those you have that are different to those around you at work.
• Knowing both who and when to say yes or no concerning tasks can help you ensure you don’t allow feelings and attitudes towards things to influence your attitudes and motivations.

Take the time to reset your boundaries as you head into the new year, let go of the ones that no longer serve you and create new rules of what you do and don’t accept.

What do you need to:

• Let go of?
• Let in?
• Let Be?

As always, I would love to hear your thoughts.

Lead to be limitless this year and make it your best year yet!

Find out where you sit on the Leadership Ladder. Your responses are anonymous, and the results summarised to help us better understand where our market sits so that we can continue to provide insights, tools and solutions to assist you in moving up to be LIMITLESS, co-creative and stand out.

Renée is a mentor, coach, expert facilitator and keynote speaker; She is the author of ‘Gift Mindset^®’, ‘Limitless Leadership’, and co-author of ‘Leaders of Influence’.

PS: Want to skyrocket your success from working anywhere? We’ve launched our online program, and you can read more about that here.

Have you received your copy of Renée’s latest book, Gift Mindset^®? It is available on Amazon, Booktopia and in all good book stores.

If this article resonates with you somehow, I’d love to hear your thoughts – get in touch.

Being in service to my clients is why I do what I do, and your feedback, insight, and suggestions are always embraced.

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