Chapter 28. Good Fences Make Good Neighbors: Be Clear on Roles and Responsibilities

The poet Robert Frost used the old New England expression “Good fences make good neighbors” in a poem about mending fences. Good fences clearly define property boundaries, reducing trespass and conflicts over ownership. Clear boundaries are just as important for your career, especially when working alongside others. With the exception of some unionized, government, and low-level jobs, few sets of workplace roles and responsibilities are perfectly defined. And the smaller the organization, the fuzzier the lines can get.

However, that’s not always a bad thing. A good workplace fence is solid but flexible, such as not making coffee for your boss each morning but helping ...

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