Selfish to Be Selfless: Why Boundaries Are a Safety Tool

When safety leaders set clear, consistent boundaries, something changes, not just for them, but for everyone around them.

They lead with more focus. They make better decisions. Their teams trust them more, not less. And crucially, they don’t burn out halfway through the mission. Boundaries aren’t barriers they’re beacons. And in safety-critical roles, they’re one of the most powerful forms of leadership we have.

As I often say: you can only control four things your thoughts, words, feelings, and actions. If you don’t protect those, you’ve got no chance of influencing anything else.

I learned that the hard way.

Back when I transitioned from operational to leadership roles, I carried the mindset that being available 24/7 was the mark of a good leader. I took every call, answered every email, said yes to every request. I didn’t want to let the team down, so I let myself down instead. No breaks. No buffer. No boundaries.

And it worked, until it didn’t.

The cracks started showing in my decision making. I got short with people. I was physically there but mentally fried. Worst of all, I realised I’d unintentionally taught my team that saying “yes to everything” was the standard. It wasn’t sustainable, and it sure as hell wasn’t safe.

That was a turning point. I learned that if I wanted to lead well, I had to lead myself first. I had to protect my own airspace.

Working without boundaries is like flying and ignoring controlled airspace in busy skies. You might be steady in your own cockpit, but without clearly defined headings, altitudes, and separation, you put every aircraft around you at risk. It doesn’t matter how skilled the pilot is, if everyone’s guessing, collisions aren’t a matter of if, but when. Boundaries in leadership do the same job. They reduce confusion. They create structure. And they allow everyone to operate safely at their level.

And the research backs it up.

In Australia, studies show that poor psychosocial safety climates where boundaries are blurred or ignored can increase the risk of developing new depressive symptoms by 200% in just 12 months. That’s not just a mental health issue. It’s a performance and safety issue. Absenteeism, presenteeism, and burnout aren’t individual problems, they’re organisational warning signs. Safe Work Australia estimates these issues cost Australian employers billions each year.

This is where boundary setting becomes a leadership competency, not just a wellness tactic. 

As Brené Brown puts it: “Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others.” That risk? It's worth it. Because disappointment fades.

Burnout doesn’t.

Boundaries aren’t selfish.

They’re flight discipline.

And in this line of work, they’re not-negotiable.

Do you agree? Let me know.