There have certainly been times when I've needed to set clear boundaries with a client to safeguard my own time and energy. It's a crucial part of maintaining a healthy professional relationship and ensuring I can continue to give my best to everyone I work with. My commitment is always to my clients' success, but that also means recognizing my own capacity and not overextending myself, which wouldn't serve anyone well in the long run. I recall a situation where a client began sending extensive emails and calling outside of our agreed-upon coaching hours, expecting immediate responses. While I appreciate enthusiasm, it began to impact my ability to focus on other clients and my own well-being. I addressed it directly but gently during our next scheduled session. I explained that I was thrilled by their engagement, and then clarified my communication policy, reiterating my typical response times and availability, and reminded them of the dedicated support they received during our scheduled sessions. I framed it as a way to ensure I could provide the highest quality of service to them during our focused time together, and they understood and respected it.
Absolutely—I remember working with a seller who wanted to call me late at night with updates and questions. I kindly explained that my policy was to only take business calls until 7 PM so I could be fully present for my family and coaching. I assured them I'd respond promptly the next morning, and by setting that expectation early, it actually deepened our mutual respect and helped the transaction run more smoothly.