A long-time client, that is also a large percentage of your company’s revenue, once again changes gears. This particular client makes changes on a daily basis within their company. You’ve been trying for over a year, to get the owner (who is responsible for the constant redirection), to recognize that this is not helpful for their staff or yours. No one really gets to ‘complete’ a project before starting on something new.

In addition, the client’s communication style is often harsh. They send emails that lambaste the recipient and are often confrontational in tone. (Usually for not completing a project on time. But how could anyone due to the constant changes?) The client’s accusing statements and tone don’t treat people with respect. Their staff is fearful of how to respond, both to emails and in meetings. To top it off, your staff says they no longer want to work with this client. The stress of the relationship is too much for them.

You have begun waking up in the middle of the night dreaming about alternative ways to satisfy this client, still have time for your other clients, plus have a life. You’re stressed because you don’t have this issue with any of your other clients. In your heart, you really want to help this client and provide stellar service. That’s what your company is all about. Thinking back over the last year, you know you’ve tried. You agonize. After weighing the options, you decide you must work differently with this client. You really like them but cannot work this way. You tell the client about your new guidelines. They choose to stop doing business with you. You are both saddened and relieved.

When is enough, enough? The above scenario actually happened to me recently. And boy was the process painful. The pain caused me to evaluate my working relationship with this client and to establish some boundaries, on my terms. The thought of continuing on in the same fashion was worse than the thought of losing revenue. New clients can be found. Peace of mind and staff satisfaction is not so easy.

What do boundaries look like? Boundaries are goals or decisions that you have made about how you want to run your life or handle a particular situation. They are imaginary walls you build around you. They could be the amount of time you want to spend working on a task, the days and hours you work, the types of people you work with, or the industries you serve. For more information on this topic, read Boundaries by Cloud and Townsend. Every parent knows the value of setting boundaries with their kids and the rewards that can be experienced with a little resolve. Establishing and setting boundaries is a key productivity tool I use with my coaching clients.

Setting boundaries is hard. But it's a necessity for a small business owner. You have limited resources and time. You’ve got to use them wisely or you’ll find yourself working way too many hours or making special considerations that don’t bring value.

Have a boundary story to share? Email me and let’s talk. My hope is that your fences stay high and firm! You decide when enough is enough.

You have stuff all over the counter or spread out in the drawer. The mess irritates you. The stuff keeps accumulating. Yikes – stuff is taking over! By setting boundaries for your physical stuff, you decide how much and where to keep things. Do this by choosing an appropriate sized container. If it is to sit out in the open, make sure the look fits your décor. Stuff can only go in the container. When there is too much, something has to go. You subconsciously let the container dictate how much you keep and where. This works for your bathroom counter or your “To Read” pile of magazines and can be applied both at home and in your office. It’s funny how this simple organizing technique can have so much power.

You send an email to someone delegating a task or expecting a reply. It’s now in your SENT folder. How do you remember? Send a copy to yourself in the bcc or cc field. When it comes back into your inbox, drag it to a folder you’ve created under your Inbox titled ‘_Pending Follow-up’ or just ‘_Pending’. Put the underscore in front of the letters so it sorts at the top of the list. When you get an answer, you can delete the email or move it to another folder for safe keeping. You can also use Flags but I find this approach straightforward and it keeps all emails waiting for a reply in one place!

• This past month I was nominated by my peers for the most prestigious award within the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), the Founder’s Award. This annual award is given to the person who has influenced or impacted the organizing industry. It is voted on by the entire NAPO membership. I was instrumental in the creation of an education program and re-launch of the certification program, both which will help to establish standards and guidelines in the industry. I am very honored to have been nominated.
• Employers are cutting slackers less slack. Read the CNN article at: http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/Careers/03 /22/cb.slacker/ to learn more. Tell me if you concur these are the five most common productivity killers.