Healthy Workplace Boundaries: Tips for Workplace Violence Prevention 

  • by Kimberly McLennan, Trainer

Quick Summary

  • Learn steps for setting personal boundaries, resulting in a safer, more supportive, workplace.

Healthy Workplace Boundaries: Tips for Workplace Violence Prevention

An often-overlooked tool in encouraging healthy workplace interactions is maintaining healthy boundaries with others. When employees know their own limits and communicate them clearly, it can reduce escalation, prevent power struggles, and help maintain a safer workplace environment.
 
As Workplace Violence Prevention Counselor Elizabeth Sheesley, LMFT, explains, boundaries are less about controlling someone else’s behavior and more about defining our own actions. A helpful way to think about boundaries is: “If this happens, then I will respond by doing this.”  

Steps for Setting Boundaries

Boundary setting is a two-step process. The first step is to communicate your boundaries with others. Boundaries are not necessarily intuitive, but it can be very easy to get into the habit of expecting others to anticipate our needs. Calmly and clearly share how you will be managing your boundaries. One example of communicating your boundary is to say, “I’m here to help, but I can only continue if our conversation stays respectful.”
 
The next step is action. These are the actions steps that you will take to ensure your boundary. These are not directives to others as we cannot control others. A good rule of thumb is that boundaries are focused inward while attempts at controlling others are focused outward. Using our earlier example, let’s imagine that the person you were speaking to was not speaking to you respectfully despite your communication. In this situation, your action steps may look like leaving the area after saying, “I’m not comfortable with this conversation. I’m going to step out until things calm down.” 

Avoid Power Struggles

Now that you know the steps for boundary setting, you are better equipped to navigate the common (and dreaded) interpersonal conflict – the power struggle. Essentially, power struggles are a battle for control. To avoid unknowingly walking into a power struggle with someone, continue to focus on your own actions instead of controlling their actions. Use clear and respectful boundary statements to set behavioral expectations. For example: “I’m not able to continue this conversation if voices are raised.” Maintain a calm, non-confrontational tone, and disengage if needed. This approach reinforces limits while supporting de-escalation. 

Boundaries Support Safer Workplaces

Healthy boundaries help employees stay calm, communicate expectations, and focus on actions that protect themselves and others. When practiced consistently, they support a respectful environment and are an important part of workplace violence prevention and safety. If a situation escalates or you feel unsafe, please feel free to reach out to the Workplace Violence Prevention team. 

Additional Resources

Primary Category

Human Resources News

Tags

Workplace Violence Prevention