Using Boundaries to Create Space for Success
By Heidi Sadecky, MA,PCC – Executive Coach & Director, Townsend Leadership Program
In the United States, we're beginning to notice the subtle changes in the season. The leaves are beginning to fall, and gardeners are busy deadheading, pruning, and preparing their landscapes for winter. This process of trimming away the old to create space for new growth mirrors the way we can approach our professional lives. Just as gardens need pruning, our careers and personal lives benefit from cutting back unnecessary tasks and responsibilities to allow room for fresh opportunities.
As a leadership coach, I often teach the importance of setting boundaries and saying "no" in order to focus on what truly matters. If you find yourself feeling so busy and burdened that you can't imagine planning for the next phase of your career, here are six essential tips to help you create space for growth this fall:
1. Create Space for the Next Phase of Your Career by Drafting a Vision
Just as you might clear away old growth to make room for next season’s fruit, creating a clear vision of where you want your career to go will help you focus your energy. What goals are you working toward? What does success look like for you in the next phase of your journey? Take time to reflect and map out your vision—it will serve as your guide when making decisions about what to prune away and what to nurture.
2. Eliminate Non-Essential Tasks From Your Calendar
If it doesn't align with your vision, it's time to cut it out. Look at your calendar and identify the meetings, tasks, or commitments that aren’t moving you closer to your goals. Freeing up your time from non-essential activities gives you more room to focus on the work that matters. In gardening, we don't keep dead plants around for sentimental reasons; similarly, don't keep tasks or obligations that are no longer serving you.
3. Delegate Important but Non-Critical Tasks
Not everything that needs to get done has to be done by you. Just as a gardener might enlist help for a major project, you can delegate tasks that are important but won't necessarily move you forward. Learning to delegate effectively allows you to focus on higher-level goals while still ensuring that necessary tasks are completed. This can be a difficult shift, but delegating is essential if you want to grow.
4. Read Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
One of the most transformative practices for any leader is learning how to set clear boundaries. Cloud and Townsend's classic book Boundaries has been around for years but remains a fundamental read for those looking to balance personal and professional responsibilities. As Dr. John Townsend says, “Boundaries are not just a defense mechanism, but a way to cultivate responsibility and freedom in our lives.” By understanding where your boundaries lie, you can protect your time, energy, and mental well-being.
5. Clarify Your Strengths
Before you can grow into the next phase of your career, it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of what makes you unique. One of the most important steps in any career change is identifying your strengths, your working genius, and your core values. This clarity not only helps you know where to focus but also ensures you’re leveraging what you do best—what only you can do. As a coach, I work closely with my clients to help them dig deep into their unique contributions. Through assessments, self-awareness, and reflection, we uncover the talents and skills that can propel them forward, creating a career path that aligns with both their strengths and passions. When you truly understand what you bring to the table, you’ll make better decisions about where to invest your energy for growth.
6. Surround Yourself With Respected Peers
Gardens thrive when they're cared for with the right tools, resources, and support. Similarly, your personal and professional growth requires a supportive community. Surround yourself with a team of respected peers who want the best for you. I highly recommend programs like the Townsend Leadership Program (TLP), which provides an excellent framework for building this kind of peer support system. Two TLP programs are beginning in 2025—could one of them be for you? If you've been searching for a leadership development program that serves you on every level, let's talk. TLP might be exactly what you've been waiting for.
Heidi Sadecky is a seasoned expert in guiding leaders to excel in their roles, overcome workplace obstacles, and achieve tangible outcomes. Armed with a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership, a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, and certification from the International Coach Federation, Heidi is dedicated to empowering leaders to redefine their leadership trajectories and amplify their impact on the global stage.
Recognized as a sought-after corporate trainer and facilitator, Heidi possesses a diverse array of specialized coaching certifications, including Gallup StrengthsFinder, Emotional Intelligence, Conversational Intelligence, Conflict Dynamics, and Working Genius. As the sole director of the Townsend Leadership Program in the Northeast United States, she extends her expertise to group members from across the region, spanning Ohio, New York, West Virginia, Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, and beyond. With Heidi's guidance, leaders unlock their full potential, fostering transformative change within themselves and their organizations.
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