Less is More - How Saying No Creates Space for Career Growth

EVENT: The next intake for Acts of Confidence? (AOC) kicks next week

While our free events and challenges spark growth, real, lasting transformation comes from deep, intentional work done within a supportive community—and that’s exactly what we do inside Acts of Confidence? (AOC).

For many of our past participants, this program was the turning point—helping them move from:

?? Procrastination → ? Action

?? Indecision → ? Clarity

?? Self-Doubt → ? Self-Trust

?? Imposter Syndrome → ? Unshakable Confidence

This 10-week journey is designed to give you the tools, coaching, and support to step into your power, once and for all. Want to know more?

?? Watch this video to learn more about Acts of Confidence

??? Hear AOC Alumni share their program experiences

COACHING CONVERSATION: From Burnout to Breakthrough: How Carla Took Control of Her Career and Secured a Promotion in 6 Months

Carla knew she was headed for burnout; she was highly skilled in her role as a Senior Talent Specialist, well regarded for her good work and she loved helping others in her team. In fact, she was often the person who put her hand up to help new team members when they encountered problems. She felt exhausted and overwhelmed from delivering her own work and picking up items other people hadn’t completed or done properly.

At the same time, her career progression had stalled, and despite applying for more senior roles over the past year, she hadn’t been successful. While she was super busy, she realised that she was spending a lot of time on low value, repetitive tasks which meant she did not have the capacity to work on opportunities that would grow and develop her leadership capability. Carla realised that something needed to be different. She had a colleague who had completed the Acts of Confidence program and had seen the shifts they’d made with the support of the community, so she decided to sign up. With a 100% money back guarantee, it was a risk-free investment in her future self.

During the program, Carla realised that her default of helping others and picking up the slack meant she didn’t have time to focus on her own important work. By getting clear on her career goals, a promotion and more satisfying work (AOC #1), Carla was able to redefine her relationship with fear and failure (AOC #5), that included a need to be liked and an unwillingness to set boundaries. Importantly, Carla learned how to set and enforce effective boundaries (AOC #6), so she could free up her capacity and say no in a way that landed well with others.

Within 6 months of completing the program, she was promoted. Reflecting on her transformation Carla said that she’d been worried about what others would think, however when she stopped putting her hand up to help, no one even noticed. While initially it was challenging to hold these new boundaries, by starting small in low stakes, safe environments, Carla found it easier than she’d expected, and some of the senior leaders commented that it was refreshing to work with someone who managed their capacity well and was proactive about priorities and key projects.

Feeling overwhelmed by all the responsibilities you have in work and life or worried you’re heading for burn out? ?Take a look at how the Acts of Confidence Program can help you address those challenges and achieve all your goals in career and life. Book a Confidence Breakthrough Call to find out more today or head over to our Youtube channel and hear AOC Alumni share their stories.

FEBRUARY'S DEEP DIVE: Less is More - How Saying No Creates Space for Career Growth

“How often do you find yourself overcommitted, stretched too thin, or running on empty?”

For many women, the demands of personal and professional life collide, leaving little room for reflection, let alone progress. Without clear boundaries, we risk burnout, stagnation and a career that feels more reactive than intentional.

Managing your capacity and enforcing boundaries isn’t just about saying no, it’s about creating the space to focus on what truly matters. By learning to prioritise and protect your time, energy, and attention, you can set yourself up for sustainable success.

Why Managing Capacity and Setting Boundaries is Essential

Managing capacity is foundational to achieving your potential. Here’s why it’s so important:

1. Sustainable Progress Requires Prioritisation The reality of today’s working world is that there will always be more you could or should do. Without clear boundaries, your energy and focus become diluted, leaving you overworked and unfulfilled.?
2. The Emotional Load Women Often Carry Women frequently shoulder the invisible mental, emotional, and logistical labour required to keep families, teams, and organisations running smoothly. Without boundaries, this additional burden can become overwhelming.
3. Boundaries Protect Energy, Not Just Time Time management is a familiar concept to many of us, but energy management is just as critical. . Learning to prioritise based on energy impact is essential to avoiding burnout.
4. The Risks of Overcommitment Overcommitting doesn’t just hurt individuals, it impacts teams and organisations.?

What Gets in the Way of Engaging with Community

Despite the benefits, boundary-setting is often hard and uncomfortable. Here’s why so many of us struggle with it:

1. Lack of Clarity
2. Fear of Judgment
3. People-Pleasing Tendencies
4. Cultural Conditioning
5. Lack of Skills or Practice

For more details read the full blog here

The Cost of Not Setting Boundaries

Failing to set and enforce boundaries comes at a high price:

1. Burnout

Saying yes to everything means often spreading yourself too thin. Chronic overcommitment drains mental and physical energy, leading to stress, exhaustion, and reduced performance.

2. Reduced Quality of Work

Overextension often leads to errors, delays, and subpar results; ironically, the very outcomes boundary-averse individuals strive to avoid.

3. Strained Relationships

Neglecting your own needs to prioritise the needs of others breeds resentment and damages trust in both personal and professional relationships.

4. Stalled Growth

Without boundaries, you risk spending energy on low-value tasks, limiting your ability to focus on high-impact work, that supports your career advancement.

How to Manage Capacity and Enforce Boundaries – For Individuals

Managing capacity is more than organising your time; it’s about protecting your energy and prioritising what matters most. Here’s a few things you can do to get started:

1. Conduct an Energy Audit

Time is finite, but not all tasks are created equal. Some energise you, while others deplete? you.?

2. Get Clear on Your Priorities

Identify your top priorities for the next 90 days. Use them as a guide to determine where you will focus your time and energy.?

3. Start Small

Boundary-setting doesn’t have to start with high-stakes situations or stakeholders. Practice in low-pressure scenarios to build confidence and the evidence.

4. Develop Your Boundary Language

Learning to say no in a way that lands well is crucial.?

5. Reframe No as Not Now

Saying no doesn’t mean closing the door forever. Communicate that your no is about timing and current capacity, not an unwillingness to help or collaborate.?

6. Negotiate the No

When a straightforward "no" feels challenging, focus on finding a compromise that respects both your boundaries and the other person’s needs.?

7. Cultivate a Growth Mindset

Fear of failure or judgment often fuels overcommitment. Adopting a growth mindset helps you reframe failure as feedback.

Boundary-setting can feel uncomfortable, especially at first. Be kind to yourself as you navigate this new skill.?

For more details read the full blog here

How Leaders and Organisations Can Support Boundary-Setting?

When a team is resourced to leverage the power of managing capacity and holding boundaries, you ensure that as a group there is alignment and focus on achieving agreed priorities, having the necessary conversations and building team effectiveness. Here’s how leaders and organisations can help:

1. Address Workplace Culture

Pay attention to unwritten rules that reinforce overcommitment. Create an environment where it’s acceptable and encouraged to set boundaries and manage capacity effectively. Give people permission to say no.

2. Recognise the Invisible Workload

Identify who is taking on “office housework”, emotional labour or saying yes to the extra committees or leadership responsibilities outside the traditional scope of their role.??Ensure these tasks are distributed fairly and across people of all genders.

3. Have Regular and Early Conversations About Capacity

Proactively discuss workload and priorities with team members. Discuss and decide in advance which projects and initiatives have priority, which you are going to put on hold, and which you are going to stop all together. Don’t wait until burnout is visible.

4. Coach and Support Boundary-Setting

Help employees identify their limits and the cost of overcommitting. Teach them how to prioritise and say no effectively.

5. Role Model Healthy Boundaries

Leaders set the tone. Share your experiences with managing capacity and enforcing boundaries, demonstrating that saying no is a strength, not a weakness.

Conclusion: Boundaries Are a Strategic Advantage

Managing capacity and setting boundaries isn’t about doing less, it’s about doing what matters most. By protecting your energy, prioritising high-impact tasks, and learning to say no, you create the space to thrive both personally and professionally.

For leaders, supporting team members to hold boundaries not only fosters individual growth but also strengthens organisational resilience. Together, we can create a culture where sustainable success is the norm, not the exception.

What’s one boundary you can set this week to take control of your capacity? Read the full blog here

We love the power of community; if this topic resonated with you, please share this newsletter with colleagues and friends who'd benefit from learning more about setting and holding boundaries.

If you find holding boundaries difficult, book a confidence breakthrough call with one of the team to see how the Acts of Confidence program can support you to set and hold boundaries so that you can achieve your biggest ambitions.? If you're a leader who wants to create a high performing team, who know how to have the courageous conversations to set and hold good boundaries, email us at [email protected] to discuss.