If you’re seeking more respect in the workplace, set for yourself clear, non-diva-like, grownup boundaries–and stick to them. I’m not really talking about work/life balance boundaries as much as I am work-approach rules. People respect people (and firms) with boundaries because we all like to know where we stand and how to effectively work with each other.

Setting office boundaries shows maturity and confidence. As does respecting the boundaries of others. Some folks think women have a harder time setting them. I’m not one of those women. Here are three of mine:

• I never put out a press release or launch a major announcement on a Monday. My reasoning: if you launch stuff on Mondays, you’ll actually be fretting/finalizing details/calling vendors in a panic on Sunday, which is never good. Fridays out bad for print media, so that leaves you with Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.
• I don’t entertain yellers. Yell and me and I’m walking out. It’s no secret to anyone who knows me. Cussing is fine, crying is fine, throwing your Blackberry against the wall is fine, being so mad you won’t look at me is fine, but do not yell/scream/shout. It’s juvenile and has no place in an office setting.
• I will not fall into the trap of reactive communications. You can be freaked out and panicky over something someone did/said/wrote/emailed/forwarded/threatened/Tweeted/legislated/etc, but I won’t allow you to pull me down into your communications death spiral. I’m happy to pull you out of yours though.

I set these professional boundaries early on in my career and they still hold true today. I’m not disrespectful about it—I certainly don’t type them out and make my colleagues memorize them or anything—I’m just consistent in my work approach.  You likely read my boundaries and thought about your own; I hope you’ll share a few in the comments.