These are examples you can use in the moment. Adjust the language so it feels natural to you.
After-Hours Contact
Situation: Someone calls or texts outside of your work hours
What you can say:
- “I’m really glad you reached out. I’m not available right now, but I want to make sure you have support. Let’s talk about who you can connect with, and we can follow up when I’m back.”
- “I’m off right now. Let’s plan to reconnect during my work hours so I can give you my full attention.”
Requests Outside Your Role
Situation: Someone asks you to do something beyond your role
What you can say:
- “I hear what you’re asking for. That’s not something I can take on in my role, but I can stay with you while we figure out next steps.”
- “I want to support you in a way that’s consistent with my role. Let’s look at what options you have here.”
Frequent or Repeated Contact
Situation: Someone is reaching out more often than you can sustain
What you can say:
- “I want to make sure I’m showing up in a way that’s consistent and steady. Let’s talk about how we can structure our time so you’re getting support and I’m able to stay within my role.”
- “Let’s set up a plan for when we connect so it works for both of us.”
Community Encounters
Situation: You see someone you support outside of your work setting
What you can say:
- “Good to see you. I’ll follow your lead here, and we can reconnect more fully when we’re in our regular space.”
- “I’m glad to see you. We can catch up next time we meet in our usual setting.”
When the Conversation Shifts
Situation: The interaction moves away from the purpose of support
What you can say:
- “I want to stay focused on what’s most helpful for you right now. Can we come back to that?”
- “Let’s go back to what you want support around.”
Quick Reflection After
- Did my response stay within my role?
- Did I stay connected while holding the boundary?
- What would I keep or adjust next time?
