Leading With Limits - How Strategic Boundaries Enhance Performance and Well-being

Can you relate to the never-ending "to-do" list and fast pace of work that is fuelled by a constant flow of emails and social media? This leaves you with no time to step back, breathe, or take a more strategic view.

The "always on" culture many businesses have adopted means that maintaining boundaries between work and home is often neglected. This has become a challenge post-pandemic, with increased working from home and turning the place where you usually relax and unwind into your work environment. It’s all too easy to pop into your home office or open the laptop up late into the evening.

I frequently assist my clients in managing their overwhelm and setting boundaries. For example, I once worked with Jackie, a busy senior leader who was feeling frazzled and heading towards severe stress. She was constantly interrupted by work emails on weekends, which left her mentally and emotionally exhausted when she returned to work on Mondays. After one of her coaching sessions, she stopped checking emails on weekends and instructed her team to do the same. The outcome was remarkable – they returned to work on Monday feeling refreshed and energised, and nothing catastrophic had occurred over the weekend. Another client, the head of an organisation, made the bold decision to turn off her work phone during the weekend, and similarly, she experienced relief and felt fully recharged.

Ironically, businesses and organisations require their employees to be creative and innovative, yet the demands of some working cultures undermine this.

Recreation is about restoring ourselves and recharging our batteries so we have the energy and capacity to perform at our best when we are at work. When you break it down, 're-creation' is all about restoring creativity, which is difficult to access when we are exhausted. Consider the boundaries you need to establish to protect your leisure and recreation time so you can show up fully engaged and performing at your best. Instead of being a victim of the always-on culture, set simple boundaries that will help you become the master of it. By prioritizing self-care, you're not only taking care of yourself, but you're also enhancing your work performance and leadership impact.

If you found this helpful and would like to further develop your leadership impact, feel more in control and less overwhelmed, or discuss how to create an effective and healthy working culture in your business, please contact me at mary@marygregory.com to schedule an initial exploratory conversation.