High-achieving women in leadership
are some of the most capable, competent, and resourceful people I know.
They build businesses.
They lead teams.
They support their families.
They handle high-pressure decisions every single day.
They try to “do it all.”
But when it comes to setting boundaries —
with their time, their energy, and their emotional bandwidth —
it’s a different story.
I see it all the time:
The CEO who holds her own in board meetings
but still finds herself saying yes to things
she doesn’t want to do in her personal life.
The executive who can negotiate high-stakes deals
but feels guilty when she needs to ask for space at home.
The entrepreneur who built a multi-six-figure business
but still feels the need to explain herself when she says no.
If you’re a woman in leadership, you likely know what I mean.
You don’t struggle with boundaries because you’re weak,
or inexperienced, or lacking confidence.
You struggle because women are conditioned to believe
that saying no makes them difficult, unlikable, or cold.
This conditioning doesn’t disappear when you step into leadership.
If anything, the higher you rise,
the more pressure you feel to stay agreeable,
be accommodating, and not upset the status quo —
even if it comes at the cost of your own well-being.
So even when you know you should set boundaries,
there’s still that little voice inside that whispers:
“If I say no, will they think I’m selfish?”
“If I push back, will I lose their respect?”
“If I don’t explain myself, will they think I’m rude?”
Here’s something useful to know:
People who respect you don’t need a lengthy explanation.
And people who don’t respect you will never be satisfied,
no matter how much you explain.
So how do you start breaking this pattern?
Try this the next time you feel the urge to explain:
The ‘One-Sentence Boundary’ Exercise
Catch yourself in the act and interrupt the pattern.
Before you say anything to justify yourself, pause.
Notice what’s happening in your body.
Notice when you are rushing to justify.
Notice your body bracing for a reaction.
Challenge the belief.
Ask yourself:
What am I afraid will happen if I don’t explain myself?
Who taught me that my “no” isn’t enough on its own?
If I fully trusted myself, how would I respond?
Use the One-Sentence Rule:
Next time you set a boundary, try this:
Instead of: “I can’t take on that project right now
because I have too much on my plate
and I don’t want to drop the ball on my other commitments…”
Say: “I won’t be able to take that on right now.”
Instead of: “I can’t make it to the event because
I have a prior commitment and I feel really bad about it
but I hope you understand…”
Say: “I won’t be able to make it, but I appreciate the invite.”
Let the silence do the work.
Once you’ve stated your boundary, stop talking.
No softening.
No justifying.
No apologies.
At first, it will feel uncomfortable—
because your nervous system is used to earning permission through explanation.
But with time, you’ll start to feel something new:
Relief.
Power.
The quiet confidence of knowing
you don’t have to defend yourself and be validated externally.
This is exactly what we’ll be working on
inside Trigger-Proof & Magnetic:
The Self-Worth Code for Women Who Lead.
Because it isn’t as simple as learning scripts to set boundaries.
God knows you can Google that.
This is about rewiring the reflex
that makes you feel like your choices need external approval.
Inside this masterclass, I’ll show you:
- How to stop over-explaining, over-apologizing, and over-justifying yourself.
- How to shift from seeking permission to standing firm in your decisions.
- A nervous system exercise to help you hold boundaries without guilt or fear.
If you’ve ever found yourself saying,
“I know better, but I still struggle to say no,”
then you need to be in this Zoom call.
We go live Wednesday, February 26th at 8:30pm EST
That’s Thursday, February 27th at 12:30pm in Sydney.
Click HERE to sing up
With compassion and clarity,
Your wingman on the adventure,
Nima
