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Your 3-Step Guide to Setting Better Boundaries at Work | The Way We Work, a TED series

Know you should establish clear limits at work but not sure how to do it? Here are a few strategies from relationship therapist and author Nedra Glover Tawwab that can help you feel more empowered and less overwhelmed, both on and off the job. The Way We Work is a TED original video series where…

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Know you should establish clear limits at work but not sure how to do it? Here are a few strategies from relationship therapist and author Nedra Glover Tawwab that can help you feel more empowered and less overwhelmed, both on and off the job.

The Way We Work is a TED original video series where leaders and thinkers offer practical wisdom and insight into how we can adapt and thrive amid changing workplace conventions. Made possible with the support of Upwork. Visit for more!

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36 Comments

  1. Crazy Ayush

    March 15, 2023 at 10:55 am

    First comment

  2. Hayd

    March 15, 2023 at 10:56 am

    Me me me.
    Do you think you’ll last long in the corporate world being such a snowflake?

    • J M

      March 15, 2023 at 11:23 am

      The boundaries aren’t unreasonable, but right, good luck getting a company to go along with them.

  3. THE AVENGERS

    March 15, 2023 at 10:56 am

    Nice another Ted video

  4. J M

    March 15, 2023 at 11:04 am

    Really? What companies are these that let you set reasonable boundaries? Because for most companies in the US, ANYTHING that MIGHT interfere with profit, is IMMEDIATELY disregarded. In my experience, workers needs are pre-disregarded. I have been working for a payroll company for 12 years, and a Taco Bell crew member makes more than I do. These companies are not remotely interested in workers’ needs. Just advertising that they are.

    • James Jiao

      March 15, 2023 at 1:21 pm

      That’s really sad. It certainly isn’t the case in NZ.

    • Mattia Cenacchi

      March 16, 2023 at 1:00 pm

      Yeah i WORKED IN THREE COUNTRIES AND IN ALL THREE YOU GET FIRED IF YOU FOLLOW ANY STEPS THAT SHE SAYS. SO DELUSIONAL.

    • Carson Hunt

      March 16, 2023 at 3:38 pm

      Yea videos like this are naive ignorance for privileged children who have never actually had to work a real job that isn’t just a fluff position.
      Better yet, try it an an at will employment state, first job outta hs I worked 12 hour shifts, was told “by law you get a break”, took my first ever break about 6 months in, fired the next day for it, was told “my attitude changed” and the boss remarked how he wouldn’t have to pay out my vacation time that I never used to be a smartass about me never missing a day … seen this hundred times over. Workers are screwed over. Now I’m a manager and I feel bad for the ways corporate cuts benefits and screws over the dumb workers. Most don’t even know we cut their block pay daily.

  5. Meanderin Oranges

    March 15, 2023 at 11:06 am

    This is the first TED video I’ve seen in months that doesn’t cram a ton of intersectional nonsense into it. Credit where credit is due.

  6. monohor haider

    March 15, 2023 at 11:06 am

    Thank you from Bangladesh

    • Dm on ᴡʜᴛᴀᴛsᴀᴘᴘ±⓵⓷⓵⓷⓶⓵⓻⓵⓷⓹⓵

      March 16, 2023 at 7:54 pm

      ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴇᴇᴅʙᴀᴄᴋ sᴇɴᴅ ᴍᴇ ᴀ ᴅɪʀᴇᴄᴛ ᴍsɢ ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ sʜᴀʀᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜ🔝✍️❤️….

  7. Julierue

    March 15, 2023 at 11:11 am

    Thank you!

  8. Maciej Makowski

    March 15, 2023 at 11:12 am

    Adjustment 91% completed ✅

  9. 刘胜

    March 15, 2023 at 11:30 am

    Stick to the boundaies you set is the hardest part.

  10. Namulema zulaika

    March 15, 2023 at 11:40 am

    You can alter your environment so that it nourishes you. Start with something little, like leaving out your journal and a pen. Or having a clean teacup ready. Or a blanket that has a soothing scent. Or a clear path to the window to let in some fresh air.

    All these details may sound tiny, but don’t underestimate how things add up. Sow tiny habits into your day as silent as an unnoticed breeze.

  11. Melissa Davis

    March 15, 2023 at 12:06 pm

    Saying it REPEATEDLY doesn’t always work either and that’s when you realize the other really doesn’t respect you at all

  12. Vanny Nunez

    March 15, 2023 at 12:33 pm

    I set a boundary about taking vacation and got a write up that I had to sign before taking my leave

    • HEFF THE GAUD

      March 15, 2023 at 1:47 pm

      🤣

    • seven guo

      March 16, 2023 at 3:47 am

      It’s not flexible to take a vacation

  13. Eric Boeck

    March 15, 2023 at 1:22 pm

    This is a great way to be topgraded out of a job.

    • Mattia Cenacchi

      March 16, 2023 at 1:02 pm

      >tHANK LORD i’M NOT THE ONLY ONE THINKING ABOUT IT!

  14. D. C.

    March 15, 2023 at 1:32 pm

    Some good info here about taking care of oneself but who’s going to be the first to go when they downsize? The prima donna who tries to dictate to her boss which form of communication they should use with her. 😆 Reasonable expectations are great but flexibility is key but hierarchical systems and at-will hiring/ firing are the norm whether we like it or not.

    • Mattia Cenacchi

      March 16, 2023 at 1:03 pm

      It’s such a delusional world she live.

  15. J'aime Le Français

    March 15, 2023 at 1:49 pm

    ❤❤❤👏👏🙏🙏🤌🤌

  16. Austin Denotter

    March 15, 2023 at 1:58 pm

    Very vague.

  17. Clive Alcaraz_music&culture

    March 15, 2023 at 2:23 pm

    Need to definitely take all my allocated holiday this time. Ty

  18. akumaichaneru

    March 15, 2023 at 2:47 pm

    I work in an environment where attendance is part of the metrics. We have sick leaves and vacation leaves. Then they made sick leaves as something that would be deducted from your stats if you take it. Crazy right?

    • Katherine Morales

      March 16, 2023 at 9:31 am

      Same here

  19. amanatee27

    March 15, 2023 at 3:38 pm

    I recognize your voice from your audiobook Set Boundaries, Find Peace! Such an exceptional book and your cadence is so impactful, I recommend it to anyone who brings boundaries up. Thank you for your work! [:

  20. GHOSTBUSTERS ЖЕНЯ 🇧🇾

    March 16, 2023 at 3:15 am

    Девочку ещё не разведён большой головой но

  21. Katherine Morales

    March 16, 2023 at 9:30 am

    This was great, thank you

  22. Val Farruggia

    March 16, 2023 at 10:09 am

    This is a nice idea but it’s not realistic at all.

  23. Mattia Cenacchi

    March 16, 2023 at 12:59 pm

    And you can wait to be fired very soon if you follow this lady advice……

    • Carson Hunt

      March 16, 2023 at 3:41 pm

      Exactly. You are insanely privileged if think the workforce works this way😂
      In at will employment states you are fired the first second your boss doesn’t “like” you, regardless of your work output. Most businesses are run through politics which means incompetence, dumb people are emotional not logical. Doing these things will make your boss not like you = fired.

  24. byoutifulmusic

    March 17, 2023 at 5:07 am

    Lots of fear in these comments section streets .. yikes 😬

  25. CK Gaming Channel

    March 17, 2023 at 7:56 pm

    Gee thanks.

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