How to Set Boundaries, Reclaim Your Time, and Still Wow Your Clients | Ep 237
🎙 In this episode, I share a transformative journey I undertook with one of my clients, whom I'll refer to as John. John was overwhelmed by the demands of his clients, constantly interrupted by calls and messages, which left him struggling to find time for deep work. I discuss the strategies we implemented to help him set clear boundaries while still providing exceptional service.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
💡 Balancing Availability and Deep Work: Service-based business owners often struggle to provide high levels of client availability without sacrificing their ability to focus on deep work. It's essential to set boundaries to manage client expectations while still being responsive.
💡Implementing a Call Answering Service: Transitioning to a call answering service can help filter urgent calls from non-urgent ones, allowing business owners to focus on their work without constant interruptions. This service can also set clear expectations for when clients can expect a callback.
💡 Using Separate Communication Channels: Establishing a dedicated communication channel, such as Slack or a separate WhatsApp for urgent matters, can help business owners avoid distractions from non-urgent emails and messages, ensuring they only see what requires immediate attention.
💡 Email Management: Having an assistant manage emails can significantly reduce distractions. By filtering and prioritising emails, business owners can focus on essential tasks and avoid getting bogged down by less critical communications.
💡 Setting Clear Expectations: Clearly communicating response times and availability to clients helps manage their expectations. By informing clients about when they can expect a response, business owners can maintain high service levels while protecting their time for deep work.
BEST MOMENTS
00:01 - 💬 “If you run a service-based business and you want to stand out with your availability to your clients, that you are there to help them when they need it and respond in a really timely fashion to the problems that might come up...it can be really hard to get the balance right.”
02:11 - 💬 “He didn't have the headspace or the time set aside during the week because he was too open and available. Now he was really struggling with this because he wanted to have the highest level of availability for his clients so they felt supported.”
08:13 - 💬 “If you explain to your clients, this is my communication policy, this is the timescale I'm going to get back to you...if you set those clear expectations, people know what to expect.”
TIMESTAMPED OVERVIEW
00:00 Balancing Client Access and Work Efficiency
06:13 Streamline Notifications; Delegate Email Management
07:12 Efficient Task and Time Management
VALUABLE RESOURCES
- To access our Internal Communications Policy, go to: https://sys.academy/guides
LINKS TO CONNECT WITH THE HOST
- Podcast: https://www.systemizeyoursuccess.com
- Website: https://systemsandoutsourcing.com/
- Facebook Group: https://facebook.com/groups/systemsandoutsourcing/
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/systemsandoutsourcing/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/systems_and_outsourcing/
- YouTube: https://youtube.com/@drsteveday42
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drsteveday42
ABOUT THE HOST
Steve moved to Sweden in 2015 and transformed how he ran his businesses—switching to a fully remote model. A former NHS doctor, with a background in computing and property investing, he now helps overwhelmed business owners systemise and outsource effectively. Through his courses and coaching, Steve teaches how to automate operations and work with affordable virtual assistants, freeing up time and increasing profits. He runs his UK-based businesses remotely with support from a team of UK and Filipino VAs, and is passionate about helping others build scalable, stress-free companies using smart systems and virtual support.