Good leadership requires good boundaries.

I used to think that a good leader put everyone and everything else above themself. Now I know that good leadership is about balance between attending to our own needs and those of the people we serve. And to serve well, service must come from overflow, not from emptiness.

Leadership flows from our well-being.

I was inspired this week by the signature on the bottom of a client’s email:
Please allow for 24-48 hours for all email responses
My working hours may not be your working hours. Please do not feel you need to reply outside of your normal work schedule.

I don’t respect myself when I don’t have good boundaries. And I don’t respect others who don’t have good boundaries. I can’t trust your yes if you don’t know how to say no.

As we wrestle with this, consider:

1. Time boundaries – Clear working hours and protection of personal time
2. Physical boundaries – Defining personal space in the workplace
3. Emotional boundaries – Managing emotional involvement with team members
4. Big Rock boundaries – Defined focused time on tasks that matter most
5. Technology boundaries – Distinct times where you turn off devices
6. Personal boundaries – Maintaining healthy self-care practices