Boundaries in Business Part 5: Boundaries with Resources
The ‘More with Less’ Myth: Why Overextending Resources Stalls Growth
If you keep trying to do more with less, you’ll eventually do nothing well.
With the access to information and pace of work today, efficiency is often celebrated as the key to success. But there’s a fine line between optimizing resources and overextending them. Many businesses fall into the trap of overpromising while being under-resourced, leading to burnout, unmet expectations, and stalled growth.
When you constantly stretch your team, budget, or time beyond capacity, something has to give. The reality? You’re not doing more with less; you’re simply doing less well.
How to Stop the ‘More with Less’ Mindset
It’s time to shift from overextension to sustainability. Here are three strategies to help you build healthier resource boundaries:
1. Be Honest About Constraints
Understaffed? Underfunded? Overloaded with priorities? Ignoring these realities won’t make them disappear, it only makes them worse. Instead of pushing beyond limits, acknowledge constraints upfront and adjust expectations accordingly.
? Action Step: Communicate resource limitations openly with your team, clients, or stakeholders. Transparency builds trust and helps set realistic goals.
2. Delegate What Drains You
Not every task needs you. Your time and energy are valuable resources - use them wisely. Delegation isn’t about offloading work; it’s about ensuring the right people handle the right tasks.
? Action Step: Identify repetitive or low-impact tasks that could be delegated or outsourced. Free up space for strategic thinking and high-value work.
3. Price Your Work Based on the Real Effort Involved
One of the biggest pitfalls of the ‘more with less’ mindset is underpricing services or absorbing costs that shouldn’t be yours. Sustainable businesses charge appropriately for the expertise, time, and effort invested.
? Action Step: Regularly review your pricing structure to ensure it reflects the true cost of delivering quality work. If you’re taking on extra responsibilities without compensation, it’s time to reassess.
Why Asking for Help is a Strength, Not a Weakness
??Scaling isn’t about doing everything - it’s about doing the right things.
??Sustainable success comes from setting limits, not overextending.
??Strong leaders know when to ask for help, delegate, and say no when necessary.
Final Thought
Resource boundaries aren’t about doing less; they’re about working smarter. Instead of stretching yourself too thin, define what’s actually possible, and build from there.
Are you setting boundaries around your resources? Or are you still caught in the ‘more with less’ cycle? Let’s talk in the comments.