Since 1989, Irene has been serving as Kidpower Teenpower Fullpower International's Executive Director, Primary Author, and Founder, through her inspiring leadership and collaboration with many dedicated and talented people, including Claire Laughlin.

Kidpower has become the global nonprofit leader in providing effective and empowering personal safety, relationship-building, advocacy, and self-defence skills for millions of people of all ages, abilities, cultures, and beliefs worldwide.

In this practical conversation with Irene van der Zande, founder of Kidpower International, we explore how to set and respect workplace boundaries with confidence and kindness.

The Boundary Bridge Technique

Skilled boundary-setters always start with something positive—what Irene calls a "boundary bridge":

• Connect first with something positive
• Use 'and' not, 'but'—bridges don't cut off communication
• Be specific and focus on behavior, not character
• Keep it simple and don't over-explain

Real Scenarios We Practiced

We role-played common workplace situations, from supervisors addressing chatty employees to colleagues setting limits on interruptions. The key is being calm, confident, and prepared for initial pushback while staying focused on the specific behavior that needs to change.

Key Takeaways for Leaders

• Be prepared for negative reactions; persistence is normal
• When someone sets a boundary with you, say, "Thank you for telling me"
• Boundaries create healthy relationships, not barriers
• Remember: it's better if someone tells you directly than talks to everyone else

Resources Mentioned:

• Kidpower's Workplace Boundaries Guide  (Click the button below to download)
• For more on Fullpower Workplace Boundaries Personal Practice, check out the article on Kidpower's website here.
• Free resources at kidpower.org/learnmore

To learn more about my services and for additional tools to enhance your leadership impact, visit ClaireLaughlin.com and connect with me on social channels @Claire Laughlin Consulting.