If you’re a business owner and your boundaries suck, here’s what to do about it.
If there’s one person who needs epic boundaries, it’s a business owner. So if yours aren’t up to scratch, let’s change that.
First, I had zero boundaries when I started my business. I was still a big-time people-pleaser / good girl who hadn’t worked out how to stick to the promises I made to myself, so I broke them over and over. I let people change their coaching sessions on a whim and turned myself into a pretzel trying to reschedule them by squeezing them into my calendar, to my own detriment. (No online calendar system then!) I was desperate to be liked and look the part. But this definitely wasn’t the way to go about it. And let’s be honest, nobody actually values someone who doesn’t have great boundaries (just think how long you need to book ahead to get into the hairdresser!)
It wasn’t until I did coaching and deconditioning for myself, that I could start to create better boundaries. Both with myself and others.
This was all well before I knew about Human Design. That would have sped up the process massively because it can shortcut the generic and tailor the specific ie you get insights that are perfect for YOU, rather than generalised to ‘everyone’. But- it’s never too late.
If you don’t know which Human Design Type you are, you can look up your chart and download it here.
Human Design is a tool that helps to provide incredibly personalised, unique and tangible tips to make life easier. Once you know your Type (or someone on your team or even a client), you can check out boundaries according to Type below.
The truth is, if you’re feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, or constantly second-guessing yourself, it’s not because you’re bad at boundaries (or maybe you are, just like I was). It’s because you’re trying to do them in a way that doesn’t match your energy.
That’s where Human Design comes in. Your Type holds the key to where you’re most likely to head down a path that’s not meant for you, and how to flip the script. So let’s break it down:
Generators: Stop Saying Yes When Your Gut Says No
You keep saying yes to the stuff that will suck the life out of you, when you’re wired to respond to what lights you up, or what will feel satisfying overall. But you’ve been trained to respond to what other people need. You say yes when you’re already depleted because you’ve spent a lifetime trying to please others (and overlooking yourself). You feel bad for doing what feels right to you, because hasn’t there been a lifetime of considering others and the notion of selflessness shoved down your throat ad infinitum wherever you look? Cue guilt, shame, or worse- feeling ‘lazy’.
What to do instead:
Check in with your sacral (your gut). Ask: Does this light me up? If the answer isn’t a full-bodied YES (eg a fire in your belly, a spark, a lean in, an energy to get started), it’s a no or not yet. Saying no makes space for the work that actually satisfies you, which is what you’re here to do. People pleasing needs to get dissolved so you can focus on taking your business in a direction that feels right for you. Not based on what others want from you.
Manifesting Generators: You’re Meant To Move Fast, So Why Hold Back?
Not only do you also feel you need to people please and try to take on everything (because you can work so fast, it seems wrong to turn it down – it won’t take long!), you’re stuck with tasks that have you rolling your eyes on the inside (and sometimes on the outside) because they feel mundane, boring or you’re over them already. But you’re also holding on to things too long and talking yourself out of the next big thing because it’s not logical, or you find yourself doubting if that’s the right move.
What to do instead:
Make sure you’re trusting your gut response (and your authority) rather than letting the mind take over. Your superpower is speed and agility, as well as your multipassionate nature. If you continue to be bored with something (a service, offer, way of posting, or clients), it’s time for a change. Let go of trying to please others and make sure you’re fired up about your work! Your energy is a game-changer and will magnetise the right people.
Manifestors: Stop Seeing Things Through to Completion. Stick to Initiating.
You’ve picked up the belief that your creative power is too much, so you shrink. You people-please. You try to keep up with everyone else’s energy and have already burned out at least once. Instead of sticking to your zone of genius: bold innovation, disruptive leadership, initiating new and powerful ways of doing something in the world. When you’re not owning who you are, you can’t have the impact you’re designed for.
What to do instead:
Your job isn’t to manage the fire. It’s to start it. Rest is your reset. Initiate from true urges, not pressure. And don’t forget to keep people informed (your team, your followers, your email subscribers, your clients). It’s not about seeking permission, but so they know what you’re up to – your big energy will be noticed if it’s missing. Have enough support to lean on so that you don’t have to do it all. Because you were never meant to. Delegating and handing off tasks and responsibilities is an essential skill to hone for you.
Projectors: It’s Time to Honour Rest & Consider Systems to Help:
You keep hustling like a Generator. You’ve done it before, and it always ends in burnout. But you keep trying to ‘do more’ to prove you’re enough. Because isn’t that what it takes to run a successful business? Nope. You will find yourself stretched way too thin, exhausted and in a hole that gets harder to climb out of.
What to do instead:
Stop. Rest. Breathe. You’re not here to outwork everyone; you’re here to guide the right people, at the right time. Wait for the invitation. Recognise your value isn’t in the doing, it’s in the seeing. And if you’re not spending time with the people who truly appreciate and value you, your energy will also be taking a hit. Reconsider your network and make the changes you need to. Where can you strengthen your systems and processes so it’s not YOU that needs to do everything? Automations can be your best friend if you let them.
Reflectors: Embrace What’s Different About You, Instead of Chasing Sameness
You’re fed up with having to wait a GD month to make big decisions. So you rebel and rush into spontaneous decisions that (surprise, surprise!) don’t turn out so well. It leaves you off-centre. You’re also taking in so much from those around you (stress, emotions, ideas, energy) that leaves you feeling depleted.
What to do instead:
Your clarity comes from time and space. Give yourself both. Honour the lunar cycle. Choose environments and people that nourish your energy. That’s not a luxury, it’s essential for you. And make time alone a non-negotiable so that you can come back home to you, and not hold on to the energy of others. Consider how you can systematise and not have to manually do everything, while still retaining some sense of surprise and delight. Whether that’s an online calendar for bookings, regular days or blocks of time when you can be ‘off’, and/or getting the most bang for your buck in terms of your energy.
The Bottom Line?
Your Human Design is a fantastic tool for showing where, specifically, you can be susceptible to going off track with your energy, your alignment and being you. Boundaries aren’t about pushing people away. They’re about protecting what’s most important to you so that you can have the most impact and be of even greater service to others. While also having a business and life that feels just right for you.
Ready to Create Better Boundaries?
I’m here to help you give your boundaries a serious makeover while getting some quick wins minus the headaches! If that sounds like just what you need, book a 90-minute 1:1 Human Design for Business Strategy sesh and let’s do it. This is a high-impact session to get you on track and keep you there. It’s going to blow your mind in the best of ways 🙂
