Battling Boundaries
The leadership skill we talk about least (but need the most)
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A theme that comes up again and again in my work is the challenge that many leaders encounter with is boundaries. Not because they don’t know they’re important, but because they’re dedicated, driven, and love their work. The idea of switching off can feel counterintuitive - sometimes even impossible.
The problem is, when leaders don’t set boundaries, neither does their team. And when boundaries don’t exist, work expands to fill every available space. Long hours become the norm. Rest feels like a luxury. People are always ‘on’ but never fully present. And eventually, something gives.
In my experience, I often observe leaders scoring the the lowest of all in engagement survey questions that assess their balance and ability to switch off. Not because they aren’t committed - quite the opposite. They’re stretched too thin, juggling too much, and struggling to step back. The very qualities that make them successful - commitment, desire to win and get results, and to give their all - also make it harder to draw the line.
The challenge with having clear boundaries it that it takes real discipline. You have to actively set and protect the boundaries you want because there will always be pressures - deadlines, demands, the creeping sense that you should just “do one more thing.”
Without discipline, boundaries erode.
In fact the hardest part isn’t deciding what your boundaries are (that’s the easy part) - it’s upholding them when it feels inconvenient, or when there’s no real driving need to do what you’ve set out.
One unspoken fear is that often emerges from leadership conversations is that setting boundaries can appear to make you seem less committed. But boundaries aren’t about doing less. They’re the smart way to sustain your impact.
When you’re constantly available, constantly working, constantly pushing, your leadership suffers. Your energy gets depleted. Your ability to focus erodes. And without realising it, you set the expectation that being ‘always on’ is a requirement for success.
These habits don’t just affect you. They shape the culture around you. If you send emails late at night, your team assumes they should too. If you take every call, no matter the time, they feel pressure to do the same. If you say “I’m always available” and mean it, you’re making 24/7 responsiveness an expectation.
But if you don’t create boundaries for yourself, no one else will do it for you. And if you don’t set boundaries, your team won’t either. The result? Decision fatigue, poor prioritisation, a culture of burnout, and eventually, disengagement.
Because in reality, the best leaders aren’t the ones who work the longest hours. They’re the ones who know when to stop.
Technology offers no shortage of ways to help - there are more calendar blockers, focus apps, notification limiters, AI-driven scheduling assistants to mention. Many of these can be useful.
But none of this tech can take away from the fact that boundaries are personal and require discipline to uphold.
No app can make the tough decision to stop working, say no, or step away for you.
The real work is in deciding where the line is - and taking responsibility for holding it.
Here are four things to consider to help you give your boundaries a boost:
Reflect: How you structure your time and attention determines your effectiveness as a leader. Think back to a time when you felt you had strong boundaries and what was different.
When in your career have you had the clearest boundaries? What made them work?
What’s the biggest challenge that gets in the way of maintaining your boundaries now?
What’s the challenge behind this challenge?
If you had one boundary you could reinforce today, what would it be?
Re-set: Boundaries aren’t about stepping back from leadership. They’re about protecting your ability to lead well. Instead of assuming you need to be available 24/7, ask yourself:
What are the 1-2 key boundaries I need to set to work more effectively?
What’s one non-negotiable habit I can implement this week (e.g. no emails after 7pm)?
What do I need to say no to?
Communicate: When you communicate your boundaries, you give others permission to set theirs too. Consider or ask:
Do your team and peers know your availability expectations?
How can you role model healthy boundaries to those you lead?
What behaviours might be unintentionally setting the wrong tone?
Sustain: The strongest leaders aren’t the ones who work the longest hours. They’re the ones who know when to stop. Boundaries aren’t a one-time fix - they require constant reinforcement. Ask:
How will I hold myself accountable for maintaining my boundaries?
What’s my plan for when work inevitably creeps in? Or that last email needs sending?
Who can I ask to check in and call me out when I’m slipping?
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