Setting Boundaries To Cultivate Leadership Skills

The paradox that transformed my leadership: The clearer the boundaries, the greater the freedom. In the SEAL Teams, we discovered this truth in the most intense situations. The missions with the clearest parameters created the most space for innovation and decisive action. Most leaders think boundaries restrict creativity and autonomy. They don't. They create psychological safety. When team members know exactly where the lines are drawn: → They spend less mental energy guessing → They make faster decisions with confidence → They innovate within defined spaces instead of freezing in uncertainty Without clear expectations and decision rights, teams get stuck in a fog of invisible boundaries they can't see but fear crossing. Try these three types of boundaries: → Decision boundaries (what they could decide without approval) → Risk boundaries (acceptable failure parameters) → Time boundaries (protected focus time vs. collaborative hours) Human connection will be strengthened and anxiety lessened. This applies to your mindfulness practice too. The discipline of sitting for just 10 focused minutes creates more mental freedom than an undefined "I should meditate sometime." Clarity creates space for growth. Freedom isn't the absence of boundaries. It's the presence of the right ones. What boundaries need clarifying in your leadership or personal practice? ----- Follow me (Jon Macaskill) for leadership insights, wellness tools, and real stories about humans being good humans. And yeah... feel free to repost if someone in your life needs to hear this. 📩 Subscribe to my newsletter here → https://lnkd.in/g9ZFxDJG You'll get FREE access to my 21-Day Mindfulness & Meditation Course with real, actionable strategies.

Lets talk about boundaries.... My first manager at Salesforce Jennifer Griffith told me - whatever you do, assert boundaries with your time here because a company in hyper growth mode will take every minute of time you are willing to give. And it was some of the best advice I have received because every time I found myself burnt out at work it, was because I had leaky boundaries around my time and the activities I valued. It's scary to assert boundaries at work - for fear of being left behind by the person willing to give up all of their time for their job. But if you spend time in a place long enough - you see the people who give up everything for work eventually burn out - because you can only pour from an empty cup for so long. Boundaries say a lot about a person..... 1 - Strong self-worth and self-motivation - If you can't commit to yourself and your own needs, you likely struggle to do it for other people. 2 - Energy and Motivation - If you have a strong commitment to the things in your life that fill your cup it means you are showing up to work with energy. 3 - Communication and confidence - Communicating boundaries is uncomfortable and one of the keys to growing is a willingness to have tough conversations. 4 - Work smarter not harder - You own your calendar, it doesn't own you - by having a very clear amount of time to work around your non-negotiables, it forces you to learn how to work smarter and organize your day for efficiency. And as a leader - demonstrating commitment to your personal boundaries gives other people permission to do the same. This creates a supportive and positive work culture. If you are burnt out - it's time to assert your boundaries. Start by committing to 3 things that you know energize you. Add them to your calendar and DO NOT MOVE THEM under any circumstances for 30 days. And set a reminder in 30 days to check in with yourself and see if your level of burn out has changed.

A Chief of Staff’s strength isn’t always being available.     It’s trusting themselves enough to step back.      As a Chief of Staff, your team and your leader relies on you… a lot.      You’re their go-to. Their problem solver. Their safety net.     The one who keeps things running even when they’re in back-to-back meetings, on the road, or deep in strategy mode.     But here’s the thing: you can’t be any of those things if you’re burnt out.     Boundaries aren’t about stepping away from your responsibilities. They’re about ensuring you can lead effectively when it matters most.     So, how do you set boundaries while keeping trust intact?     Start here:     🟡 Set Clear Expectations     ↳ Define your availability and stick to it. Communicate your “office hours” and when you’re off the clock.    ↳ Align with your exec on what truly needs your attention versus what can be delegated.     🟡 Define ‘Urgent’ Together     ↳ Not everything needs an immediate response. Decide what’s urgent and what can wait.    ↳ Protect focus by distinguishing between urgent and routine tasks.     🟡 Use Technology Wisely     ↳ Automate where possible. Set clear OOO messages and delegate tasks.    ↳ Turn off unnecessary notifications so you’re not distracted by things that can wait.     🟡 Lead by Example     ↳ Respect your boundaries, and others will too. Model sustainable leadership and make time for rest.    ↳ When you prioritize well-being, your team will follow suit.     🟡 Create a Handoff System     ↳ Build a capable team that can manage in your absence. Define clear roles and responsibilities.    ↳ Set processes that empower others to take over without confusion.     🟡 Retrain Yourself to Disconnect     ↳ Trust your team to handle things while you’re offline. The work will still be there when you return.    ↳ Rest is part of leadership. Recharge to be more focused and effective.     🟡 Reassess Regularly     ↳ Periodically check in with your team to see if boundaries are working or need adjusting.    ↳ Get feedback and stay open to adapting as your role or team evolves.     The best Chiefs of Staff don’t just manage chaos—they manage their energy.     Because when you set boundaries, you show up sharper. More focused. More effective.     So, say it with me:     “I won’t be checking email, so if you need anything, please give me a call.”     And then? Actually, disconnect.    In the comments: How do you set boundaries in a high-demand role?     ♻ Share to help spread awareness of the Chief of Staff role.       👋 Follow Maggie Olson for daily CoS & leadership insights.  

Stop apologizing for setting boundaries at work. Stand firm with these 15 moves: I spent (many) years apologizing for needing focused work time, taking earned vacations, and saying no to draining commitments. Until I realized: Setting boundaries isn't about being difficult - it's about teaching people how to value you. Here are the exact scripts that changed everything: 1. Setting healthy boundaries in high-pressure environments ↳Use calendar color-coding to signal focus time vs. collaborative hours 2. Taking their full vacation time to prevent burnout ↳Schedule mini-breaks leading up to longer vacations for smoother transitions 3. Disconnecting completely during personal time ✨ ↳Designate a shutdown ritual (close all tabs, clear desk...) to end the work day 4. Declining meetings without clear agendas ↳Offer weekly Office Hours as an alternative to ad-hoc meetings 5. Asking for compensation that matches their value ↳Document revenue generated + costs saved by your work 6. Speaking up about unrealistic deadlines ↳Develop metrics based on past projects to accurately predict timelines 7. Prioritizing mental health over hustle culture ↳Create (and use!) quiet spaces designated for quick mental breaks. Lead by example here ✨ 8. Saying no to unpaid extra responsibilities ↳Try: "Thanks for thinking of me, let's discuss the value exchange" 9. Leaving toxic work environments without guilt ↳Write a Clean Exit memo for yourself - focus on your future plans, not past problems 10. Requiring work-life integration that works for them ↳Create Life-First Blocks, and schedule personal commitments before work ones (I do this every Sunday) 11. Standing firm on their expertise in meetings ↳Start responses with "Based on my experience handling X similar situations..." 🙌🏼 12. Taking time to think before committing to projects ↳Consider: "Would I want this on my plate a month from now?" 13. Protecting their team from unnecessary stress ↳Ask "Is this urgent, important, or interesting?" for every new task 14. Choosing growth over comfort zones ↳Design mini experiments to test new approaches and build confidence 15. Leading with empathy instead of authority ↳Spend 2 hrs monthly doing your team's most challenging tasks - share what you learn as a group ✨ Your boundaries are a blueprint for how you deserve to be treated. No apologies needed. Which boundary can you work on setting this week (without apologizing)? -- ♻️ Repost to boost your network's confidence 🔔 Follow me Dr. Carolyn Frost for daily insights on building confidence & setting powerful boundaries