The Consultant Who Learned to Step Away
Marcos is a public policy consultant who supports nonprofit organizations across Central America. His work often involves high-stakes decisions, tight deadlines, and emotionally charged discussions. Earlier in his career, he believed that being effective meant being constantly available, but over time, that mindset began to take a toll.
After completing a particularly intense project last year, Marcos noticed clear signs of emotional fatigue. He wasn’t overwhelmed, but he felt mentally drained, and even small decisions required more effort than usual. Instead of pushing through, he made a deliberate choice to set firmer boundaries. He began delegating responsibilities, limiting after-hours communication, and creating space to decompress at the end of the day.
At first, he worried that stepping back would signal a lack of commitment. To his surprise, his team adjusted quickly, and the work continued smoothly. Now, when difficult cases arise, Marcos stays fully engaged during working hours, but he no longer carries the emotional weight home. He sees stepping away not as disengagement, but as a way to preserve long-term effectiveness.
List all unfamiliar words and phrases.
Review them before paraphrasing the story.
Discuss the following phrases and idioms:
high-stakes decisions
constantly available
take a toll
emotional fatigue
mentally drained
set firmer boundaries
delegating responsibilities
creating space to decompress
signal a lack of commitment
fully engaged
carry the emotional weight home
preserve long-term effectiveness
Explain the story in the present tense.
Change the entire story into this tense or paraphrase your response.
Explain the story in the past tense.
Change the entire story into this tense or paraphrase your response.
Explain the story in the future tense.
Change the entire story into this tense or paraphrase your response.
Your Thoughts:
What allows some professionals to recognize when stepping back is necessary?
Why can setting boundaries feel risky even when it improves performance?
How can redefining commitment change the way people approach demanding work?
