The Art of Saying No: Creating Balance and Sustainability in Education

Teach.Lead.Innovate.

Welcome to Teach-Lead-Innovate! On this week’s Thriving Thursday, we’re focusing on the art of saying no—a critical skill for educators and leaders to maintain balance and sustainability.

In This Episode:

• Why Saying No is Hard but Necessary: Explore the challenges and benefits of setting boundaries in education.
• The Cost of Overcommitment: Learn how saying yes too often leads to burnout and decreased effectiveness.
• Strategies for Saying No Effectively: Get research-backed tips for protecting your time and energy without harming relationships.
• Real-Life Examples: Hear how educators and leaders have successfully set boundaries to thrive in their roles.

References Cited in This Episode:

1. Brown, B. (2018). Dare to lead: Brave work. Tough conversations. Whole hearts. Random House.
2. Grant, A. M. (2013). Give and take: Why helping others drives our success. Penguin.
3. Grant, A. M., & Schwartz, B. (2011). Too much of a good thing: The challenge and opportunity of the inverted U. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 6(1), 61–76.
4. Skaalvik, E. M., & Skaalvik, S. (2017). Teacher stress and teacher self-efficacy: Relations and consequences. Teaching and Teacher Education, 67, 152-160.
5. Grissom, J. A., Loeb, S., & Mitani, H. (2021). Principal job demands and principal effectiveness: Examining the role of experience. Educational Administration Quarterly, 57(3), 391-430.

Call to Action:

How do you say no to protect your time and well-being? Share your strategies and success stories on social media or via email at [email protected].

Thank you for tuning in to Thriving Thursday! Let’s keep building sustainable practices in education and leadership.