What The Heck Does Boundary Setting Have To Do With Agile?
A Personal Journey
Hi friends!
I’m Katrina, your tech bestie, and today I want to share something deeply personal and transformative that I've learned over my career in tech so far. It’s about Agile principles and boundary setting in the workplace. You might wonder how these two concepts are connected. Let me take you through my journey.
(And if you don’t want to read the whole thing, even though I’ll appreciate you x1000 if you do, at least skip to the bottom for a lil treat!)
The Agile Connection
In the tech world, Agile is all about fast feedback loops and continuous iterations. It’s a methodology that encourages quick responses to change, collaboration, and most importantly, frequent reassessment of priorities. When I first learned about Agile, it was at work, on a specific project, which I then quickly learned was a framework and practice widely adopted by the industry. I had not learned about it in any of my college classes, mind you, but it was obviously an important concept that modern companies were implementing daily. And the concept resonated with me big time.
I knew from the get-go that Agile wasn’t just something for the tech world - it was something for the whole world. And by that I mean, Agile practices, at their core, aren’t anything foreign to human nature.
Having to adapt to change? Seeking and receiving feedback? Breaking things down to more manageable tasks? These are things we’ve already incorporated into our daily lives, on a personal level! Or if we personally haven’t, they are usually things people seek to incorporate.
At its core, Agile is about flexibility and continuous improvement. It’s about taking a step back, evaluating what’s working and what’s not, and making adjustments accordingly. So I whole-heartedly believe that this Agile mindset can be incredibly powerful when applied to both our personal and professional lives, especially in setting and maintaining boundaries.
The Boundary Revelation
An interesting difference I came to realize between myself and some of my older, more experienced peers at work is their confidence in setting boundaries. They weren’t afraid to say ‘no’ or push back when someone higher up would ask for something that didn't align with their priorities or scope of work. Observing this, I had an epiphany: I sucked at setting boundaries in many ways.
Great at Work-Life Balance, Poor at Work Scope
I've always been really good at maintaining a work-life balance. I make sure to log off at regular hours, turn off work on weekends, and make time for other important things in life. This part of boundary setting came naturally to me, perhaps because I’ve always valued my personal time and the activities that rejuvenate me. Because of this, I’ve always subconsciously viewed myself as someone that’s great at setting boundaries at work. When people around me would complain about feeling burnt out because they were working 60 hour weeks, I could not relate in the slightest.
However, I realized that I wasn’t good at setting boundaries regarding my scope of work. Which is huge! Being adaptable and eager to learn, I would often say "yes" to any idea or task presented by someone higher up. I believed that if they were asking, it must be the right thing to do. I thought saying "yes" to everything would showcase my willingness to learn and grow, but instead, it led to a blurred scope of responsibilities and increased stress.
A Junior State of Mind
This mindset kept me in a perpetual "junior" state at work, reflecting back on it now. I wouldn't say "no" and didn’t even consider if I should. While sometimes challenging the status quo and feeling like the innovator I always thought I was, I still found myself agreeing to tasks that piled up, leading me to roles and responsibilities I never intended to take on. Saying "yes" to everything can sometimes open doors to opportunities you didn’t know existed, but it can also be detrimental, leading to overwhelm and misalignment with your career goals.
As someone new to their career, I feel that we’re always attacked with the “yes” mindset. “Say yes to this opportunity!” they say. But when do we start understanding our worth and our own expertise so that we can say “no” to the things that don’t make sense, and “yes” to the things that are actually valuable for us to contribute to in our careers?
I realized that my constant "yes" attitude was a way of avoiding conflict and seeking approval. I feared that saying "no" would be seen as a lack of capability or unwillingness to contribute. However, this approach did not lead to the respect or career advancement I hoped for. Instead, it resulted in burnout and a feeling of being stuck in a role without much “voice”, despite my growing experience and skills.
Incorporating Agile into Boundary Setting
Here’s where Agile comes in.
Agile’s emphasis on fast feedback and iterations can be a great framework for setting boundaries. Just as in Agile, where teams constantly reassess their work to ensure alignment with goals, we too can reassess our boundaries to stay aligned with our personal and professional objectives.
Fast Feedback and Iteration in Boundary Setting
Reflect and Assess Regularly: Just like Agile sprints, take time to reflect on your workload and boundaries. Are you taking on too much? Is everything you’re doing aligned with your goals? Schedule regular personal retrospectives to evaluate your commitments and adjust as needed.
Seek Feedback: Communicate with your peers and mentors. Ask for feedback on your boundary-setting practices and how they perceive your workload. Their insights can provide valuable perspectives and highlight areas for improvement.
Iterate and Adjust: Based on feedback and reflection, make necessary adjustments. Learn to say "no" or "not now" when tasks don’t align with your priorities. Iterating on your boundaries ensures they remain effective and relevant.
I started incorporating regular check-ins with myself to review my commitments, aligning with sprints at work. Every two weeks, I’d ask, "Are these tasks helping me reach my goals? Am I overextending myself?" This simple (initially silly) practice of self-assessment allowed me to make more informed decisions about where to invest my time and energy. It was awkward to do this at first - it felt weird to incorporate something like an Agile retro to myself and my thoughts. But it’s really just like journaling; reflecting on something to gain clarity for future somethings.
Embracing the Power of “No”
Embracing the power of "no" has been a significant shift for me. It’s about recognizing your limits and aligning your tasks with your long-term goals. It’s a lesson learned from my more experienced peers and an application of Agile principles to my personal development.
One of the hardest parts of this journey was learning to say "no" without feeling guilty. I started small, turning down minor requests that were outside my scope. Gradually, I became more comfortable asserting my boundaries with bigger tasks. I found that people respected my honesty and appreciated my focus on quality over quantity. I also found it easier to listen to what it was I really wanted to work on and, in turn, I ended up being more valuable to the team.
Setting boundaries doesn’t make you less of a team player; it makes you a more effective one. It helps you focus on what truly matters to you, highlights the value you bring to the team, reduces stress, and prevents burnout. Most importantly, it empowers you to take control of your career path, ensuring that you’re working towards your goals, not just fulfilling others’ requests.
All in All
Agile and boundary setting might seem like separate concepts, but they share a common thread: the importance of feedback and continuous improvement. By applying Agile principles to your personal and professional life, you can set healthier boundaries, improve your work satisfaction, and achieve your goals more effectively.
Have you struggled with setting boundaries at work? How have you managed to find balance? I’d love to hear your experiences and any tips you might have, so feel free to leave a comment!
When working on projects, set clear goals and stick to them. Just as you would set boundaries in your tasks, make sure your projects have defined scopes to avoid scope creep. This helps maintain focus and ensures that your efforts are aligned with your objectives.
Take breaks! Just like Mars loves her nap time, make sure to incorporate regular breaks into your workday. Short breaks can boost productivity and prevent burnout, helping you maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Stay balanced and agile, friends!