Boundaries: The Unseen Pillar of Productivity and Well-being

The HX Podcast with Stacie Baird

Hello, it's Stacie Baird, and today I'm taking a breather between these amazing interviews to look back on our recent episodes with some of those fantastic HR leaders, and I wanted to share my own reflections with you.

Lately, one theme has been echoing in my mind and in the stories of my guests: boundaries. Those lines we draw in the sand to protect our space, our sanity, and our time. It's a subject that's hit close to home, both in my professional and personal life.

I've learned a lot about boundaries through my family's journey with substance use disorder, especially in relation to my role as a mom. There's a palpable guilt that many working moms carry, the guilt of balancing a career with parenthood. It often leads us to blur our boundaries, filling every spare moment with work when we should be taking time.

The challenging journeys our family has faced has forced me to confront a hard truth: nobody but me is responsible for maintaining my boundaries. It's been a year of realizing that no one else will protect my time and my well-being as fiercely as I can.

To connect that with HR - it's all about crafting the human experience. Be it for individuals, teams, or entire organizations. To excel in this work we need boundaries. Without them, we can't muster the self-compassion or create the space we need to do our best.

I'm taking a cue from the Shannon Teixeira interview of emphasizing energy management over time management. In the episode I talk about when I was new to HR and didn't give myself space after those tough termination conversations. But now, I recognize the importance of setting boundaries to recharge my emotional energy.

In this episode I invite you to ponder the role of boundaries in your own life, both personally and professionally. Remember, no one else can hold those boundaries for you. It's your work, your responsibility. So, as you go about your day, think about how embracing boundaries can lead to better work-life balance, greater self-compassion, and an overall sense of well-being.

Join me on this journey of reflection, growth, and discovering the transformative power of boundaries in the world of HR. Until next time on HR to HX!