You're struggling to maintain boundaries with clients. How can you protect your well-being effectively?

Sometimes, as coaches, we get this idea that we can do more if we just believe in it more and then hustle. In truth though, it’s actually taking the time to slow down, take care of ourselves, and do “the work” ourselves that makes us better coaches. Understanding our limits then helps us to know how we can work with them and at times overcomes them rather than just plowing through to exhaustion.

In general, not "overdoing" it and keeping boundaries for ourselves is vital. Acknowledging, that those boundaries should exist is step 1. Where that boundary should lie, is part of the next step. To find out here's what you can do: Regularly reflect & measure your personal well being as in: - happiness - energy-level - motivation - satisfaction - ability to focus - stresslevels - etc. Utilizing such regular reflection you can find out whether or not you are working too much (crossing your boundary), or if you can still work a little more to fulfill your drive.

Start by acknowledging your personal and professional limits. Understanding where your boundaries lie is crucial for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Recognize when client demands exceed your capacity, and take steps to address these situations proactively. #KnowYourLimits #WorkLifeBalance #SelfAwareness

Encontrar mentores: Busca mentores o colegas que ya hayan hecho la transición al trabajo independiente. Sus consejos y experiencias pueden ser valiosos. Es una buena posibilidad unirse a comunidades de freelancers: Participa en foros y grupos de apoyo donde puedas compartir experiencias, obtener consejos y sentirte parte de una comunidad.

Recognise, as a coach, you are there to facilitate, not be a servant for their emotions or do the work for them. So the first thing is being clear on what is and what is not your role as the coach

Clearly define your offer and extent of your support with your coachee. - How long are your coaching-sessions? - Are you available in between coaching-sessions? - If so: how are you going to be available (email, sms, phone?) and what response-time or effort can your coachee expect? - How spontaneously can your coachee cancel a coaching-session and book a new one? Keep an open and very clear communication regarding those things to avoid: misunderstandings, unmet expectations, frustration and - most importantly - crossing your own boundaries.

When struggling to maintain boundaries with clients, protecting your well-being effectively starts with setting clear expectations and firm boundaries from the outset. Begin by clearly communicating your availability, session times, and any policies regarding communication outside of scheduled sessions. It’s important to be consistent and firm in enforcing these boundaries, as this not only preserves your time and energy but also models professional behavior for your clients. If a client repeatedly pushes these limits, address the issue directly by reminding them of the agreed-upon boundaries and explaining how these guidelines help ensure the highest quality of support for all your clients.

Clear communication with clients is key to setting expectations from the outset. Define what you can realistically deliver, establish acceptable hours for contact, and make sure clients understand your availability. This helps prevent misunderstandings and sets a professional tone for the relationship. #ClientCommunication #ExpectationManagement #ProfessionalBoundaries

The notion of boundaries should be discussed in the first session so there is a clarity of what is expected of both. These boundaries then have to be reiterated if required

Action: Communicate clearly and assertively. Emotion: Build trust through transparency. Meaning: Empower clients to respect your time. • Ownership: How can you take responsibility for your time and energy? • Client partnership: Can you involve clients in creating mutually beneficial boundaries? • Mutual respect: How does clear communication foster a healthier coach-client relationship? Example: A coach created a detailed service agreement outlining availability and response times.*

Establish and enforce firm boundaries with clients. This might involve politely declining requests that fall outside of agreed-upon terms or limiting work-related communication to business hours. Sticking to these boundaries consistently helps protect your time and well-being. #FirmBoundaries #TimeManagement #Professionalism

Action: Enforce limits consistently. Emotion: Develop resilience to client pushback. Meaning: Protect your professional integrity. • Self-belief: Can you trust your judgment when enforcing boundaries? • Assertive communication: How can you confidently express your needs without guilt? • Long-term perspective: How does maintaining boundaries contribute to career satisfaction? Example: A coach practiced saying "no" to additional requests, prioritizing existing commitments.

Self-Care is extremely important - for every one of us. Here is just a few things of what you can do to make sure you're taking care of yourself: Introduce routines & rhythms: a morning-routine alone can and will define your day, if done properly. Form new habits like: meditation, regular reflection, reading, practicing gratitude and solitude, sporting and journaling. Those activities i.e. will help you destress, gain clarity, foster your creativity, be more positive, empty your head and boost your health- & energy-levels.

Incorporate self-care practices into your routine to maintain your mental and physical health. Whether it's regular exercise, meditation, or time spent with loved ones, self-care ensures you're recharged and better equipped to handle client demands without burning out. #SelfCare #MentalHealth #WorkWellbeing

If you don’t take care of yourself, what message are you sending to those whom you are coaching? And how long can you coach without becoming burned out?

Ich nutze eine Methode, die ich als "detached care" kennenlernen durfte und welche mir entscheidend über ein "Helfersyndrom" hinweggeholfen hat. Ich widme meinen KlientInnen meine volle Zeit und bin sowohl emotional, als rational während der Sitzung voll bei Ihnen. Ich fühle auch jederzeit empathisch mit. Allerdings schenke ich Ihnen das Privileg, anzuerkennen, dass es sich bei Der Situation an sich um ihre ganz ureigene, private handelt. Ich nehme mir quasi nicht das Recht und verweigere Ihnen nicht die Hilfe, objektiv bei der Sache zu bleiben und mich eben nicht mit in das Drama zu begeben. Dies hilft mir und den KlientInnen dabei, die Situation in der objektiven Realität zu erkennen und zu bearbeiten.

For challenging topics, I consult with other coaches or communities, and very often it helps me to write down my thoughts after a difficult coaching session so that I can stop dwelling on them.

Delegate tasks when possible to avoid becoming overwhelmed. If you have a team, trust them with responsibilities that don’t require your direct involvement. Delegation not only lightens your workload but also empowers your team and improves overall efficiency. #Delegation #Teamwork #WorkloadManagement

In a coaching business, just like any business you can work "on" your business or "in" your business. With coaching being a skillset business the coach wants to ensure they delegate relevant tasks so doesn't take up a lot of their time. These are activities that need doing (certain marketing practices) but could be delegated.

Regularly reflect on your interactions with clients to identify areas where boundaries might be slipping. Self-reflection helps you stay mindful of your well-being and make necessary adjustments to maintain healthy, productive relationships. #SelfReflection #BoundaryManagement #PersonalGrowth

The coach wants to ensure they reflect regularly on how the business is going and how they are doing with each client. This will ensure they are continually improving their skillset and making sure the work with the clients is progressing