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In today’s always-on, hyper-connected world, it’s probably not burnout if — it’s likely burnout when.

According to Gallup, 44% of employees globally report experiencing workplace burnout, with leaders and managers reporting even higher rates. In New Zealand, studies show burnout rates have risen from one-in-nine employees at high risk of burnout in 2019 to a whopping 57% in 2024 (Haar, 2024). The pressure to be constantly available, to seamlessly cope with growing demands, and to model “resilience” often leads leaders down a dangerous path of blurred boundaries and exhausted teams.

But a quiet revolution is underway. More leaders are beginning to understand that setting strong boundaries isn’t a luxury, it’s a leadership responsibility.

The Old Way: Always Available = Always Effective

For decades, leadership myths have glorified 80-hour workweeks, late-night emails, and self-sacrifice as signs of commitment. But research paints a different picture: when boundaries disappear, productivity, trust, and wellbeing go with them. Teams model what they see and if you never switch off, they won’t either.

The Shift: From Hustle to Healthy

Modern leaders are reimagining boundaries as strategic tools, not signs of weakness. Across sectors, we’re seeing leaders take real, practical action:

• “Focus Fridays” with no meetings to protect deep work

• Clear norms against weekend or after hours emails, with ‘schedule send’ used to avoid off-hours disruption

• ‘No meeting’ hours for protected flow time

• Personal priorities in the calendar (yes, school pickups and gym time count!)

• Meeting hygiene: no agenda = no meeting

These aren’t grand gestures. They’re signals of respect - for time, attention, and the humans doing the work.

Boundaries Aren’t Rigid — They’re Rooted

Here’s the thing: strong boundaries don’t mean inflexibility. 

In fact, the best boundaries are those that allow for occasional, thoughtful exceptions. Emergencies happen. Priorities shift. What matters is that flexing your boundary is a conscious choice, not a chronic habit.

Think of boundaries as your leadership baseline. When you lead with clarity and explain why certain boundaries exist, your team doesn’t feel restricted. They feel trusted. And when you flex? They understand it’s purposeful, not expected.

What Happens When You Set the Tone

Setting boundaries isn’t just about your wellbeing - it sends ripple effects through your team and culture. When leaders normalise rest, focus, and protected time, teams feel safer, more focused, and more engaged.

Boundaries are contagious. So is burnout. Which one are you role-modelling?