The Office Mom Trap: Stop Saying Yes to Everything with Paula Mathias

What happens when being the reliable one slowly turns into being responsible for…everything? This week, Jess and Claude sit down with author, speaker, and creator of The Yes Test Method, Paula Mathias, to talk about how women become the unofficial “office mom” — taking the notes, ordering the snacks, planning the celebrations, fixing the problem — and why being good at something doesn’t automatically make it your job. Paula shares the workplace experience that made her realize how often she was making herself smaller, why an automatic “yes” can quietly create resentment and burnout, and the three questions she now uses before taking something on: Is it Yours? Is it Essential? Is it Sustainable? We also get into why setting boundaries can actually increase respect, how to push back or manage up without simply bringing your boss a problem, what happens when these same patterns follow us home, and how to know when the answer should actually be YES — especially when an opportunity scares you. Plus: Can you retire as the office mom without becoming the office villain? Spoiler: one person’s no might just be another person’s yes. In this episode:  How women accidentally become the “office mom”   The hidden cost of the automatic yes   Paula’s Yours–Essential–Sustainable Yes Test   Why being capable doesn’t mean you should do it   Setting boundaries without damaging relationships   How to manage up when something shouldn’t be on your plate   Saying yes to stretch opportunities even when imposter syndrome shows up   Why your no may create an opportunity for someone else  Learn more about Paula and The Yes Test Method at PaulaMathias.com Send us Fan Mail You can watch the full episode on Youtube Follow us on IG ,  TikTok, Threads and LinkedIn Please rate, comment and provide suggestions for upcoming episodes Work Besties! Theme Song Written by Ralph Lentini @therallyband