The Power of Boundaries at Work

Session 5: The Power of Boundaries at Work

Part of the Choose to Grow x Own My Life Partnership Series: Women at Work & Leadership 2026

The Story Behind the Series

For too many women, boundaries at work feel like a luxury, something we’re told we should have, but rarely feel safe enough to enforce. Whether it’s saying yes when we want to say no, answering emails late into the night, or absorbing others’ emotional labour, blurred boundaries have become part of the job description. But here’s the truth: boundaries aren’t barriers, they’re bridges to balance, safety, and respect. When women hold strong boundaries, they protect not only their energy, but their value and wellbeing.

Research shows that:

• 68% of women say they find it difficult to say no to extra responsibilities for fear of being judged (HBR, 2023)

• Women are twice as likely as men to report burnout linked to overcommitment and blurred personal–professional boundaries (McKinsey Women in the Workplace, 2024)

• Those with higher self-efficacy (confidence in their ability to influence outcomes) set stronger, healthier boundaries and experience higher career satisfaction (Bandura, 1997; Forbes Women, 2023)

  
  

That’s why Choose to Grow and Own My Life created this partnership series, to equip women with the skills, language, and confidence to take ownership of their wellbeing and success. These short, empowering lunchtime sessions are designed to give you practical tools and powerful insight to help you thrive, safely, sustainably, and unapologetically.

Session Format

1. Welcome & Framing the Conversation

2. Awareness: What Boundaries Look Like at Work

3. Theory: The Psychology of Boundaries

4. Practice: Setting Boundaries That Stick

5. Close & Call to Action

Why This Series Exists

The Choose to Grow x Own My Life Partnership Series is about helping women create safer, fairer, and more empowering workplaces, one conversation at a time. Boundaries are the foundation of self-efficacy. They’re how women reclaim time, energy, and control so they can thrive as their full, authentic selves. Each 30-minute session is designed to help women build awareness, confidence, and practical tools to shape a workplace culture that values wellbeing as much as performance.