How to Set Healthy Boundaries with Your Clients
Sleep consultants have incredibly rewarding jobs. They form strong personal connections with clients and their families while helping them develop long-term healthy habits. Some of your clients may become your friends as you navigate the parenting journey together, which can be incredibly rewarding for both of you.
However, there will also be times when professional boundaries can become a little fuzzy in these situations. One of your clients might contact you at inappropriate hours or demand more of your time than you can give. Part of growing as an entrepreneur is learning how to set healthy boundaries to protect yourself and your business.
That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help set boundaries with clients that maintain your work-life balance and mental health. Following these best practices can free up time and ensure you can fully step away from work at the end of each day.
Clarify Your Work Hours
One of the best parts of working as a sleep consultant is that you can set your work hours. Plenty of consultants prefer to work nights and weekends so they can support their families during the day. However, this doesn’t mean your clients should be able to reach you at all hours of the night.
When you meet with your clients for the first time, review your office hours so they know when they can contact you. You can also add these hours to your email signature if you choose. Setting operating hours can dissuade clients from contacting you during family time or make them more understanding if you take longer to respond.
Dedicated business hours are one of the best ways to set easily enforceable boundaries with clients, and it will help you separate your personal interactions with paid services that underpin your business’s success.
Create a Response Window
If you don’t feel it’s ideal to define specific operating hours, you can still set healthy boundaries with clients by developing a response window. For example, you can state that clients may need to wait 12 to 24 hours for you to respond to their questions or concerns. (You can set this window based on your usual work schedule.)
The goal of this response window is to prevent people from immediately demanding your attention. For example, if a client emails you late at night, they shouldn’t expect a response first thing in the morning. This window can also create space for you to enjoy other aspects of life even though you are an entrepreneur. You don’t have to be tied to client calls and emails.
Also, there may be legitimate emergencies that arise. If there are a few scenarios where it might be important for a client to contact you immediately night or day, it’s worth articulating those very clearly on your website and relevant materials. That way, there’s no question about what’s an emergency and what can wait until your regular hours.
Let a Client Know When They Cross a Line
Time boundaries are important when starting your own business, but your clients may cross other lines that make you uncomfortable. They might ask personal questions that you don’t want to answer or try to form deeper relationships beyond your professional agreements. Some clients may even try to share their political or religious opinions with you.
When a boundary is crossed, there are several ways to quickly and politely address the issue. Clearly explain why you are uncomfortable and why you avoid these topics in the workplace. For instance, if a client brings political issues into a consultation that makes you uncomfortable, you can always say:
“I’m sorry, it’s my policy that I don’t discuss politics at work—it’s nothing personal!”
In most cases, that will be enough to politely diffuse the situation. Also, it’s important to remember that clients often cross these boundaries because they feel comfortable with you. They may not even realize what’s happening, and they will rely on you to clarify the boundaries of your professional relationship.
While these moments can be uncomfortable, the good news is that the vast majority of clients will be responsive to open, unambiguous communication. By addressing these moments as they arise, it’s much easier to enforce them quickly in the future, and it highlights your professional and personal standards if you need to have a more direct conversation going forward.
Continue Setting Boundaries as Your Business Grows
Many people don’t realize they have a boundary until it is crossed. If an issue with a client arises and you address it, you can turn that experience into a formal or informal business policy. This will help prevent other clients from crossing that boundary in the future.
For example, if a client follows you on social media but you don’t feel comfortable with them having access to your personal life, you may decide to make your pages private or create public professional accounts. Then, if a client tries to add your personal page to their contacts, it’s easy to redirect them to your public profile.
Entrepreneurship is all about growth. Not only are you growing your business, but you are also learning what you will accept and what you will not tolerate. You have the power to turn a negative experience (a crossed boundary) into a lasting policy that protects you for years to come.
Know When to Walk Away
The vast majority of your clients will respect your boundaries and follow any guidelines you set. When you bring up a crossed boundary, a reasonable client will apologize and change their behavior. However, there are a few who will continue to ignore your rules or push forward in a way that makes you uncomfortable.
When this occurs, it is okay to let that client go. You should not have to work with someone who makes you uncomfortable—and that starts with respecting your policies and boundaries.
Firing clients is part of running a business. It’s never easy, but it is important for protecting your mental health and ensuring the success of your sleep consultancy. And remember: money means a lot, but a healthy work situation you’re looking forward to participating in is priceless. If you compromise on your boundaries, you’ll probably end up regretting it in the long run.
Build a Healthy Business With Sweet Sleep Academy Mentorship
Becoming an entrepreneur is exciting but challenging. You will learn so many lessons as you acquire new clients and develop healthy relationships. Fortunately, you don’t have to do it on your own. You can work with business coaches and mentors at Sweet Sleep Academy who are eager to help you.
Learn about our opportunities to help you grow and join our supportive community of sleep consultant entrepreneurs. We can help you set boundaries that protect your time and business, and build the practice you’re dreaming of.
