Are you tired of disappointment?

I could teach you a dozen ways to say No.

No to all the things you shouldn’t be saying Yes to.

But you might still have issues with boundaries.

Because boundaries aren’t just about saying No.

They’re about setting expectations.

They require you to say things that may seem obvious.

They require you to say things that may feel uncomfortable.

But mostly they require you to be honest.

Tired of people overtaking conversation in meetings?

* Let them know at the onset to keep their answers to under two minutes.

Annoyed that your sitter leaves the dishes in the sink?

* Let her know to wash anything she uses.

Frustrated your assistant doesn’t give you all the information you need?

* Provide the exact results you want before they’re off on their task.

Sick of no one paying attention to the agenda?

* Let them know to stick to the points first before moving onto other discussions.

Over saying no to your school committee?

Tell them you don’t have the bandwidth for more commitments this year.

People aren’t mind readers.

They don’t know what you want, why you want it, or how you expect it.

And if you’ve told them before, they need to be reminded.

They also don’t deserve blame. Blaming people for your lack of clarity is a cop out.

Instead, get honest. Be clear.

It’s not always easy, but it’s always in everyone’s best interest.

Setting expectations is your best defense against disappointment.

You will spend less time saying No and less energy in saying Yes and regretting it.

You will get better results with less frustration.

You will teach people how to respect you.

You will learn to respect yourself.

Are you willing to get uncomfortable for that?