On Sunday afternoon, I posted an article titled Talking is Action. The post dealt with the incremental costs to real estate agents for the unanticipated services associated with difficult transactions. I'm grateful that so many of you shared your front-line stories and learned a great deal from each of them.
Daniel Gates commented:
I would love to see a follow up blog to this detailing how an agent can implement this.This evening's post is the first of two , maybe three, that will attempt to answer Daniel's request. The question at hand really deals with best practices. But, before we can look at best practices, we have to get a feel, and a sense, for the concept of professional boundaries.
Boundaries are the rules of engagement that we establish as we relate professionally with others. Behaviorally, they are the place where we draw a line and publicly declare, through words or actions, the standards that we expect from ourselves and others.
Example #1
Two days ago, Maryland's first lady, Katie O'Malley experienced headaches and shortness of breath while giving a presentation to a group opposed to domestic violence. Mrs. O'Malley was hospitalized and later released to a local media frenzy. The public knows only that the symptoms resulted from a coronary related issue that is not life-threatening. Mrs. O'Malley grew up in a political family and is herself a sitting judge in Baltimore City. She has been widely criticized for not publicly revealing more information about her recent ordeal.
My perspective: Mrs. O'Malley's decision to keep her health details private is a very real example of a professional boundary. She has properly divulged all relevant facts and was correct to retain her privacy and dignity. Mrs. O'Malley's medical diagnosis is a private family matter. Any additional public disclosure would be unnecessary and possibly construed as political pandering.
Example #2
John F. Kennedy recognized that his reading skills were far superior to his listening skills. Only experienced writers were considered for inclusion in the inner circle of staffers during his presidency. Relevant matters were presented to JFK in writing before being discussed at white house meetings.
My perspective: JFK established an appropriate professional boundary by espousing the importance of writing skills among those working closest to him. We all have personal challenges and should make every effort to surround ourselves with a proper support group in our professional settings. By accommodating his cerebral processing needs in this way, JFK took every precaution to protect the integrity of his official decisions.
Keep in mind
- A professional boundary is a "line in the sand" that's visible for public viewing and scrutiny.
- From a branding perspective, boundaries can be used effectively to present an image of integrity and credibility to consumers.
In my next related post, we'll roll up our sleeves and talk business.
For follow up post see: Radical Professionalism.
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