In this episode of Lead to Soar, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern talk about boundaries as a leadership discipline, not a wellness perk.
Using something deceptively simple—taking leave and setting out-of-office expectations—they explore how leaders signal standards, model sustainability, and protect decision quality. This is not about disappearing or being unavailable. It’s about clarity, trust, and resisting the slow erosion of leadership effectiveness that comes from being permanently on.
The conversation challenges the idea that good leaders must always be accessible and examines how poor boundaries create confusion, dependency, and burnout—both for leaders and their teams.
In this episode, they discuss:
Why boundary-setting is a leadership responsibility, not a personal indulgence
How leaders unintentionally reward over-availability and urgency culture
What effective handover and coverage actually look like
How boundaries protect judgement, not just energy
Why modelling rest, recovery, and focus matters more than saying “take care of yourselves”
This episode is for leaders who want to lead with intention, maintain standards, and build teams that function without constant escalation.
Links and Resources
Funny OOO messages that inspire Michelle!
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