An executive is torn between work and family. How can you help them find balance?

We begin by discussing how they go about their work. Are there ways of optimising what they are doing now? I've been working this through with a client lately - how is work prioritised and using a template I offer clients they start logging the bigger ticket items. We also work out what amount of time these things deserve and/or will need. And how they can delegate some of the tasks. We also explore whether they are operating at an enterprise leadership level or still tinkering with 'managing'. All of these items require a change in approach to work and mindset. And a good dose of discipline to stay the course! Leaving them with a question to keep asking themselves - what am I doing to get in my own way?

Nur mit einem stabilen Privat- bzw. Familienleben lassen sich berufliche Belastungen vernünftig bew?ltigen! Ich spreche aus eigener Erfahrung und bin meiner jetzigen Ehefrau extrem dankbar, dass Sie mich aus einer belasteten Situation herausgeführt hat und mir gezeigt hat, dass das Leben nicht nur aus Arbeit besteht..

Using a priority matrix with a balance of time between work and personal activities is a great tool that can help achieve a balance between personal life and work. It is necessary to have the possibility to correct any deviation in order to consistently achieve this balance objective.

Step 0, before prioritizing tasks, is to identify high level priorities at work and at home. Specificity is key for both. "Family" is a vague goal as there may be specific and even sometimes competing aspects of family that are important to the client (e.g., spouse vs. kids vs. parents). Similarly, with work, it is key to help the executive to identify top goals, key outputs and overall milestones. Rushing to prioritize tasks (mentioned here as step 1) could cause someone to go too quickly into the weeds before they take the necessary step back to identify what is important to them and their values both professionally and personally.

You may know when and where you need to set boundaries but in the moment fail to articulate them. If that's the case, can you script some phrases that you can use when faced with a situation you know encroaches on your boundaries (but your default is to typically say yes)? Can you practice different phrases for different people/situations and the appropriate tone and pace of voice that will enable these phrases to 'land'?

Balancing work and family can feel overwhelming, but it begins with setting clear boundaries. First, identify your priorities. What truly matters to you in both your professional and personal life? Once we clarify these, we can create actionable steps to set boundaries that protect your time and energy. This might mean establishing firm work hours, delegating tasks, or creating non-negotiable family time. By being intentional with your choices, you’ll find that balance becomes not just a goal, but a sustainable practice.

Essentialism is being realistic about time allotment. What you can do What you cannot do What you want to do What you do not want to do If you have allocated weekly work time to 3 work projects and there are 2 more to find time for then the question is "What do you want to lower on the priority scale?" because you are human and you cannot divide your attention between these projects and still have time left over. Delegate not only those tasks that have the lowest priority but projects too. The same goes at home, get a cleaner, a gardener or anything else that is not worth your time so that the time you just freed up is actually quality time with family.

"Work-life balance" is a misnomer. It implies a rigid division between two essential aspects of our lives. Instead, I advocate for a more fluid approach: work-life integration. Mindset shift is required. By shifting one's perspective, we can find contentment and satisfaction in both our professional and personal spheres. For some, this might mean prioritizing quality time over quantity with loved ones. For others, it could be dedicating specific periods to fully immerse themselves in work or personal pursuits. The key is to design a positive outlook on time that aligns with your individual goals and values. By understanding your priorities, you can regain energy, make informed decisions, and experience a more fulfilling life.

I would guide an ?????????????????? ?????? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? to focus on: a) ???????????? ???????? ?????????????? ????????: It's essential to get clarity on what is truly important to you both in your professional and personal life. This involves identifying the aspects of your life that you are not willing to compromise on. b) ?????? ???????????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ????????: Establish clear boundaries between work and family time. This might mean setting specific work hours, turning off your phone during family meals, or designating weekends for family activities. c) ????????????????: You don't have to do everything yourself. At work, empower your team by delegating tasks.

Delegation cannot work unless the subordinates are capable. If one looks at the Situational Leadership framework, leaders who always operate as directive S1 leaders can never have people to delegate to. No one can. develop under such leaders. Leaders should move to the S2 and S3 stages of coaches in behaviour and mentors in skill to help their subordinates develop before they can be at S4 ready to delegate. I coach leaders never to give solutions when asked. Instead ask people to come up with multiple solutions, however half-baked so that together they co-create something good. Within days leaders have more time on their hands to enhance work-life balance. Delegation is critical for leadership development both ways and for a better life.

Effective delegation is about building trust and enabling growth. When executives delegate, they empower their team and family members to take on meaningful roles that contribute to collective success. This approach allows leaders to focus on where their expertise is most needed, while also fostering a sense of responsibility and collaboration in others. By sharing the load, they create an environment where everyone can thrive, both professionally and personally. Delegation isn’t just a strategy—it’s a way to amplify impact across all areas of life.

A banda do Eu Sozinho n?o faz sucesso. Delegue, divida, organize para que você n?o carregue sozinho toda a carga de trabalho. Delegando, você cria uma rede de prote??o para você mesmo e um senso de resoonsabilidade para a sua equipe.

Early in my career, I thought I had to do everything myself to ensure success. But over time, I learned that delegation is key to maintaining balance. By trusting others with tasks—whether at work or in personal life—I not only lightened my load but also empowered my team to grow and develop their skills. Delegation allowed me to focus on high-impact work where I added the most value. It also created more space for personal time, helping me stay energised and focused. Empowering others is a win for everyone.

Flexibility isn’t just a perk—it’s a vital strategy for maintaining balance in a demanding world. By embracing flexible work arrangements, executives can create a more harmonious integration of their professional and personal lives. This adaptability empowers them to be present for significant family moments while still meeting their professional obligations. Flexibility also opens the door to creative problem-solving, enabling leaders to navigate unexpected challenges with ease. Supporting executives in finding this balance can lead to greater satisfaction and sustained success across all areas of life.

With the world of work breakoing the classical definitions, the focus is shifting to productivitty, effectivity and efficiency. The limitations of time and space are done away with, thanks to technology. This provides immense flexibility to the exeuctuve to work, communicate, organize and collaborate from any place one is located. This flexibility helps to improve relationship with familu though 'work from home' strategies. This helps in enhancing the personal presence to the family without sacrificing the quality or the quantity of work. Flexibility is a culture the mind has to adopt to remain stress-free.

O Home Office é, antes de tudo, uma janela de oportunidade para mudan?as. No come?o, foi um susto, uma pris?o, um afastamento dos colegas e do burburinho do escritório. Mas, aos poucos, algumas empresas foram percebendo um aumento de produtividade no regime remoto. Isso é bom para os dois lados. Valorize e fa?a por merecer essa flexibilidade. Ela vale ouro.

I’ve found that embracing flexibility is one of the most effective ways to balance professional and personal demands. For me, adjusting my work hours or occasionally working remotely allowed me to handle personal priorities without compromising my job performance. Flexibility isn't just about working less—it's about working smarter. When we adapt to changing circumstances, we stay focused and efficient, while also making room for life’s unexpected events. By embracing flexible working arrangements, we can thrive both personally and professionally.

Through coaching session, we can dig down to find the most important things, believe for the client. Once we can adress those, the client can learn and prioritize task, works around it. Once you know what matters to you, it lead path to arrange schedule, plan and when it comes to recharge, it help the client more focus on things, activities that will help the client feel refresh and recharge

Don't live your life in silos. Instead, identify activities that help you relax and also those that you can do with your family. Quality time is better than quantity of time. Also schedule what I call 'Me Time'. It could be 30-60 minutes a day when you do what you want. Also make it clear to your boss that weekends are sacred for family time and unnecessary expectations shouldn't be made. Even better, don't open your laptop during the weekend unless you're expecting a communication that's important.

In my experience, regularly recharging is crucial to maintaining high performance. I’ve learned to treat self-care—whether through exercise, hobbies, or downtime—like a non-negotiable meeting on my calendar. Scheduling time for relaxation ensures it doesn’t get overlooked, even during busy periods. When we prioritise recharging, we come back to our work with renewed energy and focus, leading to better decisions and higher productivity. Rest isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity for sustainable success.

O que você tem feito quando n?o está trabalhando? Como andam suas leituras? Como anda a sua forma física? Como andam seus relacionamentos afetivos, amor e amigos? E a família? Lembre-se, a sua bateria tem um limite de uso. Precisa recarregar de vez em quando. Quando mais você cuidar da "bateria emocional", mais produtivo você será.

It is totally normal and very human to get overwhelmed sometimes. There are several well working steps which may add a new perspective and help normalise the work-life balance: 1. create space for reflection and analysis. Secure quite time for that on a regular basis; 2. make a regular inventory check —?list everything which requires attention, so it is all there; 3. prioritise and check that only what is important requires attention; 4. delegate progressively more. Look for what needs to be done to let you delegate more and make it happen; 5. grow your team so they can take more from you. Motivate volunteering for new projects and taking calculated risks.

In such a situation the support of a professional Coach can be very helpful! If this were to be my Client, first, we will look at all the stress symptoms and ways to regulate that. And then we will clarify the top 4 Values of this Leader's life. If Family is in the top, (which is not the case, with many male Executives), we will look at the strategies on how to reorganize his/her life.

The whole point of executive coaching is that the solutions will be one that is quite specific to the client and jointly created with them. There's no fixed solution. The process of coaching may reveal to the client why they are feeling torn. Is it societal expectations, is it something that matters to them, or something else entirely. The solution that emerges will depend on what the root of the problem is.

It's important to focus on prioritising tasks, setting boundaries for work and family time, delegating tasks, using technology to help with organisation and efficiency, but one of the most beneficial actions an executive can take is to seek support from both family and colleagues using open, clear and honest communication in order to share needs and expectations.

Fa?a acordos com a sua família. Se vocês est?o alinhados e com o mesmo foco, certamente em uma conversa de alinhamento vocês chagar?o juntos ao melhor cenário de prosseguir. Lembre-se, você n?o precisa escolher entre um e outro. Você só precisa garantir que sua família entenda o momento que você está e o que colher?o juntos no futuro.