How to Set Assertive, Effective Boundaries at Work

In the mid-2000’s I started working for New York City’s Department of Education in one of the support offices. I was young, energetic and excited about the new work I was about to start.

I had been there less than a week when one of the manager’s (a black man), called me buckwheat because my hair was natural. 

Everyone heard him, but nobody said anything or corrected him. 

I was so angry and discouraged, but I knew I had to nip that behavior in the bud, or I would be his target. The next day, I went into the office with a poster I made of a buckwheat field, surrounded by pictures of beautiful, black women with natural hair, like Jill Scott Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu. I tapped that poster above my desk.

That manager left me alone, and never said or did anything like that to me again.

Be clear about your limits in how people get to speak, interact and communicate with you, whether that’s in person, phone, email etc. Don’t letting people scream, insult or feel like they can do or say whatever they want to you with no consequence.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, in the workplace being respected is more important than being liked.

Do you know your limits for how people get to communicate and interact with you?

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