Staying True to You: Upholding Personal Values and Boundaries at Work

Professional work can feel daunting, and there’s often pressure to stay on everyone’s “good side”. But what happens when you feel your peers or bosses are stepping across your boundaries or going against your personal values? Understanding what is important to you and how to express it is essential to ensuring a work environment where you feel most respected. 

Abby Miller is a 2024 graduate from The Ohio State University with a degree in Business Administration, specializing in Human Resources, and a minor in Nonprofit Management. Miller was involved with Women in Business throughout college, including being in the Philanthropy Committee her junior year. Now, Miller works for Ohio State University Physicians as an HR Specialist.   

Miller values staying true to yourself in each area of life, including work. “Some of my core values are kindness, gratitude, authenticity, and determination, and I try to embody in my day-to-day interactions and decisions,” Miller said. “My company does a great job at supporting work-life balance, but it's also a boundary I try to maintain. I make a point to leave work feelings at work, take breaks throughout the day to reset, and head out when the workday ends.” 

Although Miller hasn’t been put in a situation herself in which she was pressured to compromise her own values and boundaries at work, she has had experiences in which she needed to take a pause and think over her emotions before reacting or potentially compromising her values. “At OSUP, our HR department often emphasizes the ‘Power of Pause,’” Miller said. “It highlights the importance of taking a moment during difficult situations to ensure our response remains professional, productive, and aligned with both our personal values and our organization’s values.”

At work, Miller is close with her team, so boundaries and values are often communicated and encouraged among her boss and peers. Additionally, Miller believes it helps to be “friends” with your coworker, which leads to sharing different parts of your lives at a pace that feels comfortable and open. “I’ve found that when we build those personal connections, we communicate more effectively and collaborate more smoothly as a team,” Miller said. 

It can be difficult to ensure you are listening to your values and boundaries at work when it’s stressful or a time of high pressure and demand. However, Miller tries to remember her department’s “Power of Pause” to help her keep moving with her integrity. “In busy times at work, it can be hard to take those breaks, log off after 8 hours of work, or make connections with co-workers, but I've found that by keeping these boundaries, I am more productive and focused,” Miller said. 

For people looking to navigate standing with their own personal values and boundaries at work, Miller recommends being authentic and suggests that no matter what each person values, being true to yourself will be the best way to navigate. “For me, staying kind and genuine with employees, peers, and coworkers; showing gratitude even for the little things; and staying determined to get my work done both correctly and on time, has played a big role in helping me grow in my career,” Miller said. 

Amanda Borchers graduated from The Ohio State University in 2024, with a major in Logistics Management and a minor in Integrative Approaches to Health and Wellness. She served on WIB’s Philanthropy Committee, Career Fair Committee, and Women’s Month Committee during her time at OSU. Now, Borcher works at DHL as a Logistics Analyst.

For Borchers, philanthropy and giving back to her community are deeply valued. She often volunteers and can do so through her job as well. “I love volunteering and am very grateful to continue doing so through DHL with organizations such as the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, the American Red Cross, Star House, and the Girl Scouts of America,” Borchers said. “I am also actively involved in DHL’s Women in Supply Chain ERG and currently helping to lead their mentorship program, which has been incredibly meaningful and closely aligned with my passion for supporting and uplifting others.”

Similarly to Miller, Borchers also thinks taking pauses at work is important when there are challenging moments to withstand your values. “Asking questions, understanding why things are done a certain way, and respectfully challenging the status quo can lead to positive change,” Borcher said. “These situations often open the door to better processes and healthier conversations, particularly when something does not feel right or could be improved.”

Wanting to be supported at work isn’t just a one-way street. One must be willing to be a support for others as well to make the workplace an overall welcoming and trusting environment. “Asking how others can support you, while also being someone others can go to for support, goes a long way,” Borchers said. “Even if you are new, showing up for others helps build trust and creates a culture where people feel comfortable speaking up.”

Borchers recommends bringing up important values and boundaries sooner rather than later. Everyone is new at one point, and it’s easier to establish your boundaries at the beginning of your new role, rather than further down the road. Also, Borchers mentioned how one person speaking up can encourage others around them to speak up for what they want or need.

Using her voice to speak up has improved not just Borchers’ work, but her overall workplace culture and has nourished supportive team environments. Standing by your personal values and boundaries at work can be scary, but can lead to genuine change and improvements. “I had the opportunity to lead DHL’s Employee Opinion Survey within our control tower, which allowed me to help turn employee feedback into real action by implementing ideas and changes that were within our control,” Borchers said. “Experiences like this reinforced how important it is to listen, speak up, and advocate for others.”

Borchers’ main advice for people looking to set boundaries at work is to be honest and respect their peers. Additionally, it may require patience as important change can often take time and not be immediate. “Follow up, ask for updates, and continue the conversation with peers or leaders,” Borchers said. “Most importantly, do not be afraid to bring things up. Nothing will change if it is never discussed.”