3 Scripts to Set Boundaries & Elevate Your Leadership Credibility
I have three scripts to support you if you’re a leader looking to elevate your leadership credibility.
Dear {Name},
“I’m a people pleaser. Growing up I was the one in my family who tried to make everyone happy when my parents argued. I wanted everyone to get along. I know this is affecting how I deal with conflict at work because people often come to me complaining about co-workers and I try to fix everyone’s problems. It’s exhausting.”
This insight came from a leader in my Conscious Conflict training. If it resonates with you, you’re not alone. Self-awareness is the first step to change.
Your upbringing shapes how you communicate and navigate conflict, what I call your Workplace Family Factor®. If you’ve been conditioned to keep the peace, you may unknowingly prioritize harmony over accountability, weakening your leadership credibility.
3 Scripts to Set Boundaries & Elevate Your Leadership Credibility
When tensions rise, resist the urge to fix, accommodate, or stay silent. Instead, set clear boundaries using these scripts:
→ Empower Direct Communication: “Have you spoken to your colleague about this?”
If employees come to you with complaints, this redirects them to take ownership of their workplace relationships, reducing gossip and drama.
→ Speak Up with Confidence: “Thanks for sharing your perspective. My thoughts are different—let’s talk about where we have common ground.” This helps you stop “going along to get along” while fostering healthy discussions and innovation.
→ Set Clear Expectations for Respect: “Stop. It’s not okay to speak to me or co-workers with disrespect.” For employees with abrasive behaviors, this sets firm boundaries on acceptable conduct.
Curious about how your family upbringing shapes your leadership? Take the FREE Workplace Family Factor® Assessment to gain insight into how your family upbringing impacts the way you handle conflict…and what you can do about it.
→ Take the Assessment
To your leadership success,
Bonnie