Lecture: Fluid Boundaries

Context is everything.

While boundaries provide a guide to behavior and the scope of one’s role, they can and should appreciate that every situation is unique. Our boundaries may need to be flexible to adapt to the changing context of our life, workplace, and world.

Fluid boundaries refer to the concept of boundaries that are adaptable, flexible, and able to change according to different contexts or situations. This concept can be applied to various types of boundaries and types of relationships. Asserting boundaries with fluidity can be challenging and comes with benefits and risks. Discussing, reflecting upon, and practicing fluidity in our boundaries, is key.

Personal Relationships

              Adaptability: Fluid boundaries mean being able to adjust how much you share or how close you are with someone based on the context. For instance, you might share more personal information with a close colleague than with an supervisor. 

Professional Relationships

              Flexible Roles: In a professional setting, fluid boundaries can result in flexible job roles and responsibilities. Employees might take on different tasks or collaborate across departments depending on experience, expertise, and project needs. Personally, I need to navigate boundaries between multiple positions in various departments. Therefore, I have information on my email signature explaining what days I am in what role, and when folks can expect me to return their message. 

             Work-Life Balance: Fluid boundaries can also help in managing work-life balance by allowing for flexible work hours or remote working arrangements. For example, although I tend to work Monday – Friday, I will generally take the day off following the completion of a large project.

Benefits of Fluid Boundaries

Strengthened Relationships: They help build stronger and more adaptable relationships by allowing for more empathy and understanding.

Improved Collaboration: Fluid boundaries in work environments foster better collaboration and innovation by breaking down rigid roles and encouraging teamwork and ‘out of the box’ thinking.

Challenges of Fluid Boundaries

Ambiguity: Fluid boundaries can sometime create ambiguity and uncertainty, making it harder to know what is expected or acceptable.

Overstepping: There is a risk to overstepping or violating personal space or expectations if boundaries are not communicated or respected.

It’s important to note the role of power within boundary setting and boundary violations. Individuals in positions of power, either through virtue of their professional role or social location, may find it easier to assert their boundaries or have them respected.

Strategies to Maintain Healthy Fluid Boundaries

Self-awareness: Be aware of your own limits and comfort levels, and be ready to assert them, if necessary. It may be helpful to let students know that you have both hard and soft boundaries, and you will decide when a boundary is required.

Clear Communication: Regularly discuss and negotiate boundaries to ensure everyone involved understands and respects them. A good example of this is the practice of creating agreements for group work. It ensures a clear understanding of responsibilities and timelines. 

Mutual Respect: Ensure that you are respectful of others’ boundaries and their fluidity.

Enacting fluid boundaries requires a balance between flexibility and respect, ensuring that we are adaptive to various situations while still protecting the integrity and safety of all parties involved.