Y2. Give Yourself Permission – Coach and Practice
This behaviour develops a leader’s ability to create healthy boundaries and release guilt around rest and balance.
Behaviour focus
Helping leaders challenge the belief that productivity equals worth and model sustainable habits for others.
Purpose
To protect long-term effectiveness by replacing overwork and guilt with clarity, discipline, and permission to recover.
| Action Steps | Key Questions | Practice |
| Identify pressure sources. | What drives your sense that you should always be doing more? | Ask the leader to name three beliefs that feed overwork, then challenge whether they are fact or assumption. |
| Write a permission slip. | What do you need to allow yourself to do without guilt? | Ask the leader to write “I give myself permission to…” and keep it visible all week. |
| Define what’s enough. | How do you know when a task is complete? | Practise setting a daily finish line for what counts as a good day. |
| Model balance out loud. | How can you show others that rest is part of success? | Rehearse explaining to a colleague or team why you are leaving on time, to normalise it for others. |