Episode 15: Capacity and Boundaries

In the latest episode of "Not Your Typical Leadership Coaching Podcast," Marty and Bill share a compelling conversation about navigating the challenges of staying energized amidst the busyness of professional life. They offer insights into the delicate balance of managing capacity, setting personal boundaries, and the subtle art of taking rejuvenating breaks without stepping away from one's responsibilities. Through personal anecdotes and thoughtful analysis, they explore how unprocessed emotions can impact our capacity for work and life. The discussion also touches on the innovative concept of 'grab and go stillness' as a means to quickly refresh and refocus. Key takeaways include strategies for recognizing and honoring one's limits and preferences to maintain a state of flow and fulfillment. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to enhance their leadership skills and personal well-being without the overwhelm.

Key Points:

• Managing Busy Periods: Marty discusses being in a busy yet exciting phase of life, emphasizing the importance of consciously managing time and energy.
• Restoring Capacity: Marty shares the importance of taking breaks that provide deep peace, away from screens and mental chatter, to replenish energy and maintain productivity.
• Recognizing Capacity: Bill and Marty discuss the concept of a "capacity bucket," representing one's ability to handle life's challenges. Unresolved issues or trauma can fill the bucket, diminishing capacity over time.
• Restoring Capacity Techniques: They explore various methods to restore capacity, including physical movement, engaging the senses, and tapping into the authentic self for innate resources.
• Healthy Boundaries: The conversation transitions to the topic of boundaries, reframing them as self-awareness tools rather than limitations imposed by external factors.
• Boundary Setting: Bill shares personal experiences and suggests preemptively communicating boundaries to others to manage expectations and reduce overwhelm.
• Learning from Overwhelm: They stress the importance of learning from moments of overwhelm to identify early signs and proactively address them.

The episode offers practical insights and strategies for listeners to effectively manage their energy, restore capacity, and establish healthy boundaries in various aspects of life.

References:

• "Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time", article by Tony Schwartz: https://hbr.org/2007/10/manage-your-energy-not-your-time

• Internal Family Systems (IFS) Model: Mentions self-awareness and accessing innate resources.
• "Managing Capacity and Overwhelm", article by Bill Tierney: https://www.billtierneycoaching.com/blog/managing-capacity-and-overwhelm
• Learn more about IFS Coaching with Bill Tierney at ⁠www.billtierneycoaching.com⁠.
• Learn more about coaching with Martin Kettelhut at ⁠www.listeningisthekey.com⁠.