Building Effective Boundaries

By Jay Winchester

In the long run, the best boundaries for your business are those that are value based and value driven.

In the not-so-distant past, farmers and ranchers allowed their livestock to wander without the necessity of fences and boundaries. This was known as ‘free range’ ranching or farming. In fact, in those days, if you wished to protect your person or property from potential damage from these wandering herds, it was your responsibility to erect barriers and ‘fence them out.’ Today, ‘free range’ is more a marketing term than a reality - except sometimes in business, where many companies suffer from the damage caused by ‘free range’ employees, clients and suppliers.

This type of business problem occurs in companies where leadership has not established effective boundaries. There are many reasons for this but one of the main ones is a resistance to the idea of control. No one likes to be on the leash; anyone who daily walks a large dog understands this. Until that dog is properly trained and understands the boundaries of acceptable behavior during a walk, there is going to be conflict between master and canine - and the dog is usually going to win out. Believe me, I know more about this subject than I care to.

The efficient operation of a business is enhanced when effective boundaries are established. And establishing effective boundaries, those that work to build up a business rather than tear it down, is really an extension of your values. When you know what is important to you- what really matters on a heart level- you understand intrinsically what behaviors will or will not support those values. So that becomes the basis for your boundaries. It is saying, “This is how I want my business to look, how I want it to be perceived, because this particular set of values matters to me. Therefore, I must establish boundaries, not barriers, that ensure everyone involved in my business performs in a manner that supports that perception authentically.”

Once you arrive at that decision, it is important to make sure the boundaries you set are organic in nature, not arbitrary. In other words, they stem from the reality of how your value set drives your decisions and actions. There is a Christian company headquartered in Rochester, MI, that exemplifies this idea of value-based, organic boundaries. The company, Daniel Brian & Associates, an innovative branding and promotions firm, lists its founding principles on its website:

• God is the source of all creativity and the only authority above a client.
• Love is the only rule. All others were made to be broken.
• Character is the beginning of success.

For this reason, we will never intentionally lie to a client or for a client.

These principles extend out of the founder’s value set. While they might seem vague at first glance, the reality is you can make some clear assertions about what the boundaries of the business involve. The fact that these principles are documented and ingrained into the corporate culture makes them real and enforceable, should that need arise. They also create opportunities for dialogue with employees, clients, investors, suppliers and others that are both meaningful and mutually beneficial.

Think about that second principle: Love is the only rule. Within most any concept of love comes the notion of liberty- freedom to choose and behave as one desires within a defined arena and relationship. This might be misconstrued as license for ‘free range’ thinking and behavior. This common misconception has wormed its way into all aspects of our culture. Now we see that, for many, liberty is a synonym for excess. Not so. Liberty is never about doing what your impulses or intuition drive you to do.

If you choose to look at liberty as the freedom to think innovatively, act decisively, create boldly, and accept the consequences of those actions responsibly, it builds a boundary within which there is fertile ground for both success and growth for everyone involved in your enterprise. Even better, it is a boundary that extends organically out of your value set. This lends it relevance, longevity and purpose. Boundaries blessed with these qualities provide safe havens for those looking to make positive impacts and experience significant professional and personal growth.

Remember that we entered into this discussion on boundaries as a result of the last two columns where we discussed the requirement for re-defining ‘Yes.’ Let’s tie the two together: When a business has established boundaries that grow organically out of its authentic values, it makes it much easier to say ‘Yes.’ Why? It’s simple really: you are better able to trust that the decisions made and the actions taken are done so responsibly, and within the boundaries you’ve set. Additionally, you’ll discover that, over time, those working side by side with you will begin to reflect your values authentically.

If you have your values defined clearly, work on delineating the boundaries that extend from them organically. If you haven’t defined your values, get to work on defining them today. They will become increasingly important to your success over time.