Boundaries as the basis for sustainable work and relationships
9. February 2026Zlín, February 6, 2026 – The Faculty of Management and Economics at TBU in Zlín held a course entitled Work Boundaries: How to Set and Maintain Them, which focused on one of the key topics of long-term sustainable work functioning-the ability to set and protect professional and personal boundaries.
The course focused on consciously working with boundaries in contact with clients, students, colleagues, and other people in the work environment. Right at the beginning, participants addressed the question of what boundaries are, why they are important, and why it is so difficult for many people to set and maintain them. The topics of taking responsibility for others, excessive efforts to “help at all costs,” and the mistaken belief that we always know what is best for others were also discussed.
Discussions and practical examples showed that taking responsibility for others is not an expression of kindness, but often a path to exhaustion, frustration, and disruption of professional relationships. Participants reflected on why they sometimes try harder than others, why they do things they haven’t been asked to do, and how to make conscious decisions in difficult situations. Another important topic was the ability to say “no,” talk about oneself and one’s feelings, and recognise one’s own internal “delusions,” such as the need to be perfect or to manage everything without help.
The final part of the course was devoted to manipulation and its typical signs. Participants learned how to recognise manipulation, what emotions are often associated with it—especially regret, guilt, fear, and shame—and why manipulators often seek to create chaos. According to the lecturer, a practical tool for maintaining distance in such situations is to consistently ask for facts (who, when, where, how).
The course also touched on topics such as professional ethics, models of assistance, principles of professional relationships, and working with emotions, thoughts, and physical signals. Emphasis was placed on the fact that we are not responsible for others’ lives, but we are responsible for how we perform our role.
The topics of boundaries, empathy, and defence against manipulation are integral to the faculty’s efforts to promote a healthy, sustainable, and respectful work environment in which high-quality performance can be sustained over the long term without compromising personal balance.