Leading is a Balancing Act

At an organizational level, effective leadership means balancing business outcomes with cultural and people-centered goals. Research shows that companies focused solely on results suffer in the long run—higher turnover rates, lower engagement, and dwindling retention are common outcomes. In fact, a Gallup study found that organizations with engaged employees experience 59% lower turnover and 41% fewer quality defects than their less-engaged counterparts. On the flip side, companies that prioritize culture and relationships but ignore productivity often become enjoyable places to work, but progress stalls and business outcomes suffer.

The Power of Balance

The most successful organizations and effective leaders understand the need for balance. They are deeply committed to achieving results, of course. But alongside that, they invest significant time and effort in building bench strength and developing individual and collective capacity to engage, contribute, and collaborate effectively. This balanced approach fosters both the achievement of results and a thriving work environment. Research from McKinsey found that companies with strong employee engagement see 21% higher profitability.

At the team level, balance means dedicating time and attention to interpersonal dynamics that impact both collective and individual performance. Effective leaders recognize that thriving teams need more than technical expertise—they need a sense of cohesion, trust, and open communication to excel. This aligns with the findings from a Harvard Business Review study that highlighted how teams with strong collaboration outperform competitors by 2.5 times.

Skills for the Future: Human vs. Vocational

At an individual level, leadership involves placing as much emphasis on developing “soft” or human skills (e.g., openness, empathy, communication) as on “hard” or vocational skills. The World Economic Forum reports that by 2025, human skills will be more in demand than vocational skills, as technological advancements increasingly automate routine tasks . Leaders who encourage the development of these essential human skills position their teams to navigate the complexities of modern work with resilience and adaptability.

Built to Balance: A Relentless Focus on People and Results

The best leaders drive toward agreed-upon business outcomes. But they also have a relentless focus on culture and people. They know they are ultimately accountable, not just for achieving financial targets but for creating an environment where employees feel valued, empowered, and capable of delivering their best work. A Deloitte report revealed that companies with inclusive cultures are six times more likely to be innovative and twice as likely to meet or exceed financial targets.

Seeing leadership as a balancing act, then, is not just about juggling two separate goals—it’s about intertwining people and results to create a sustainable pathway for long-term success.

In case you missed it, we have started a YouTube channel (@ultraleadership)! Our goal with the channel aligns with our mission: Enable leaders who want to go beyond usual and ordinary to engage, empower, and activate people and teams to shape the future consciously and confidently. Have a look and let us know in the comments what you thought.

Cheers,

Greg

About the Author?

Dr. Greg Giuliano is an advisor and executive coach to senior executives and teams all over the world, designing change leadership and team development strategies to lead organizational transformation. His mission is to help leaders and teams grow their capacity to enable positive disruption for markets, organizations, teams, and individuals.??

Greg is the author of the #1 Amazon Bestsellers The Next Normal, Ultra Leadership, and The Hero’s Journey: Toward a More Authentic Leadership.???