The Essentials: Setting and Maintaining Boundaries

The Essentials: Setting and Maintaining Boundaries

Author: Harvard Business Review March 18, 2024 Duration: 41:42
We all need to set boundaries, even in the most structured jobs, because work has its way of encroaching on the rest of our life. Ashley, a senior analyst for the federal government, recently shifted to a schedule that helps her do her most important work and have some alone time before her family gets home. Now she’s trying to figure out how to further minimize interruptions, deal with slow and busy stretches, and get out of unproductive meetings. Amy G and executive coach Melody Wilding talk through adjustments Ashley can make and things she can say to achieve those goals. They also offer strategies for how to communicate your new limits with colleagues and how to hold the line when your boundaries inevitably get tested.

From the newsroom of the Harvard Business Review comes Women at Work, a conversation grounded in the daily realities of professional life. Hosted by HBR editors Amy Bernstein, Amy Gallo, and Emily Caulfield, this podcast moves beyond abstract theory to tackle the specific, often frustrating challenges women navigate in their careers. Each episode picks apart a knotty problem-like confronting a persistent wage gap, handling frequent interruptions in meetings, or managing disproportionate office housework-with a focus on practical strategies. The hosts bring in researchers, leadership coaches, and seasoned executives who offer evidence-based advice and share their own hard-won insights. Listening feels like joining a candid discussion among knowledgeable colleagues who aren’t afraid to name the awkward stuff. You’ll find a blend of personal stories, tactical guidance, and deeper analysis about systemic issues, all aimed at helping you strengthen your position and advance your ambitions. It’s a resource for anyone looking to build a more effective and equitable career, one concrete step at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Women at Work
Podcast Episodes
Keep the Challenges of Freelancing in Check [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:43
What are the psychological and social skills freelancers need to achieve the self-made career they envisioned? Two researchers break down the common existential and interpersonal challenges that come with working in the…
What’s Changed About How We Show Up at Work [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:24
Which feelings (and shoes) are work-appropriate these days? An expert on authenticity joins us to share impressions of how professional behavior and dress are changing, plus advice for deciding how transparent and comfor…
Becoming a Leader When Everything Is Shifting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:00
How can you be seen as a leader, especially when you’re not even “seeing” the people you work with? We revisit an interview with two leadership development experts — essential listening for any woman who’s ready to step…
Take Control of Your Onboarding [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:18
How are women who started a job remotely during the pandemic faring? We hear from several new hires about the hurdles they encountered and how they overcame them with the support of their managers. Then, HR executive Ame…
If We Want Equity, Work Needs to Be Less Greedy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:22
One way to help close the gender earnings gap? Deliberate redundancy at work, according to economic historian Claudia Goldin. Claudia expands on this idea and shares other insights about the U.S. female labor force. Emil…
So You’re Thinking About Quitting Your Job… [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:44
How can you be confident that quitting your job is a good move for your career? And how do you handle the feelings — guilt, fear, anxiety — that come up? These are questions we’ll all face at some point, so we talk throu…
Dealing with the Feels After an Employee Quits [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:03
Managers are told that when an employee resigns, they should be professional, reassure their team, and wish the person well. But we also know that resignations bring up a lot of feelings: panic, loss, self-doubt. Five ma…
Leaders to Learn From [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:22
In leading their teams and organizations through a crisis, women have repeatedly stepped up to the plate. We celebrate four of these women and highlight the ways they’ve been resetting priorities, demonstrating resilienc…
What It Takes to Make a Major Change [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:59
If you’re looking to upgrade your work life, know that it’s possible, manageable, and worth the effort. Two women reflect on the actions they took that ended up elevating not only their careers but also their all-around…
Introducing Season 7 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:30
Starting October 11, a new collection of perspectives to learn from, advice to act on, and takeaways that buoy you up.