Today’s public service employees interact with, and serve, the broadest cross section of our population. And while the vast majority of the individuals we interact with, and work with, are pleasant and cooperative, a certain percentage are often – to be charitable – a challenge to deal with.
One of the most effective ways that we can create a happy, productive, efficient, and non-turbulent workplace, is by improving our (individually and as a staff) ability to set boundaries.
Although this aspect of any organization’s function is crucial, it is especially important to the public service environment because of the varied range of roles we play in a multitude of communities.
Unfortunately, as many who work on the “front lines” know, frequently setting boundaries is easier said than done.