Setting boundaries doesn’t always require you to say “No.”

Setting boundaries is ultimately about 2 things:

1. Protecting your time, energy, and mental well-being.

2. Ensuring you remain productive and effective.

You can often do both skillfully without saying no or directly pushing back.

But many professionals struggle with this double-skill. It's scary to potentially disappoint the people we work for. Many are afraid it will jeopardize their career growth.

Do you find yourself:

• Overwhelmed?

• Saying yes to too much?

• Unable to push back on your managers?

If so, you're not alone. But a career coach can help you break free from these patterns and create a healthier, more sustainable work life.

Here’s how to find the best coach for help with setting boundaries.

1. Identify Why You Struggle With Boundaries

"Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others."

— Brené Brown

People don't struggle with boundaries because they're weak.

Some slightly deeper causes include:

✔ Perfectionism – Feeling like you have to ensure quality and do it all yourself.

✔ Fear of conflict – Worrying that pushing back will create tension or harm relationships.

✔ People-pleasing tendencies – Prioritizing others’ needs to ensure your own worthiness.

✔ Job insecurity – Feeling like you have to prove your worth by always being available.

A skilled coach will help you get on top of these tendencies. They'll help you change your mindset AND give you practical tactics for high stakes moments.

They'll help you find the version of you who is a leader, not just a helper.

And yes, you can lead your leaders at work.

2. Choose a Coach Who Balances Empathy and Strategy

"Compassionate people ask for what they need. They say no when they need to, and when they say yes, they mean it."

— Brené Brown

The best career coaches don’t just give you boundary-setting advice. They create a safe space for you to explore why it’s so hard.

Look for a coach who combines:

✔ Empathy – They understand the emotional weight of setting boundaries and validate your concerns.

✔ Strategy – They provide practical solutions tailored to your personality and work environment.

For example, imagine you’re struggling to push back on extra work from your manager. Anyone can tell you, “You need to stand up for yourself.”

But a great coach will help you craft a response that feels natural, professional, and assertive, like:

"I’d like to help with that, but I want to make sure I can continue producing my highest-quality results across all my priorities. Right now, I’m focused on [Task A], [Task B], and [Task C]. If this new task is a priority, I’d appreciate your guidance on how to adjust my workload to make room for it."

Then you can even provide 2 options to make the decision easier for them, like this:

"Would you like me to shift focus from one of my current tasks or extend timelines for any of them?"

This balances confidence and collaboration. You can hold your ground without burning bridges.

"The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything."

— Warren Buffett

3. Find a Coach Who Teaches Sustainable Work Strategies

"You get what you tolerate."

— Henry Cloud

Setting boundaries isn’t just about saying “no.” It’s about preventing burnout without sacrificing work quality.

A strong career coach will help you create systems that:

✔ Prioritize high-impact work so you’re not constantly putting out fires.

✔ Help you delegate effectively so you’re not doing everything yourself.

✔ Ensure rest and recovery are part of your routine to keep you effective.

By building smarter work habits, you naturally reduce some of the need for boundary-setting battles.

4. Make Sure They Specialize in Overcoming People-Pleasing Tendencies

"When you say yes to others, make sure you aren’t saying no to yourself."

— Paulo Coelho

A common tendency is to overcommit because you don’t want to disappoint people.

A great coach teaches you how to:

✔ Recognize when you’re saying “yes” out of fear, not forward movement.

✔ Communicate assertively without conflict, and without feeling guilty.

✔ Reframe boundaries as a sign of professionalism, not selfishness.

5. Ensure They Help You Navigate Tough Conversations

"The art of communication is the language of leadership."

— James Humes

A coach who specializes in boundary-setting should teach you how to handle pushback.

Colleagues, managers, and clients will all want things from you. It's a fine line to balance relationships, results, and sustainability.

For example, a great coach should provide:

🔹 Techniques for staying calm when someone reacts negatively to your boundary.

🔹 Strategies for framing boundaries positively (e.g., “protecting quality” rather than “refusing work”).

🔹 Guidance on negotiating workload adjustments without damaging relationships.

Having structured approaches to these conversations makes standing firm easier.

6. Find a Coach Who Frames Boundaries as a Career Strength

"You teach people how to treat you by what you allow, what you stop, and what you reinforce."

— Tony Gaskins

Many professionals are afraid boundaries will hurt their reputation.

A great coach will help you see that boundaries enhance your credibility by showing that you:

✔ Prioritize high-value work over busywork.

✔ Respect your own time, and by extension, others' time.

✔ Operate with intention rather than reactively saying “yes” to everything.

For example, they might help you frame your boundaries in a leadership-oriented way, such as:

To do my best work, I need clear priorities.

That's the truth. The more you insist on clarity from others and from yourself, the more of a leader you become.

Final Thoughts: Choose a Coach Who Helps You Take Action

"Boundaries are the distance at which I can love you and me simultaneously."

— Prentis Hemphill

The right career coach doesn't just talk about boundaries. They help you implement them effectively.

The best coaches help you shift your mindset, practice key conversations, and create sustainable work habits.

If you’re ready to stop feeling overwhelmed and start protecting your time, a good coach can be your best investment.