Balance: A Leader’s Lament

Every leader laments or grieves over balance. With so much to do and so little time,

How do I balance my home life, work, school (in some cases), and community service?

How do I maintain my sense of balance?

One definition of balance from Google is to:

“keep or put (something) in a steady position so that it does not fall.”

 A steady position is not perfect, satisfactory, or easy, but it is steady. Such is the life of leaders at every level, especially executive leadership positions, hence the lamenting. Leaders often overlook the one element required to gain and keep balance: Self

What can you do to achieve balance, to keep from feeling out of control? I apply what I refer to as the 4Rs: Reflection, Review, Reflexivity, and Retreat. Let me unpack each one.

The 4Rs of Reflection, Review, Reflexivity, and Retreat

Daily Reflection. I am an introvert, and as a medical doctor once told me, “Intro or Extrovert has nothing to do with your social skills, but how we recharge. Some people need solitude and introspection, while some people need other people and excitement.” Whatever way we choose to reflect, we need to come up for air daily, to see what blocks us from or keeps us steady.

Weekly Review. Did I achieve what I planned to achieve, at home, at work, at school, or in the community? High achievers can gain balance by accomplishing the goals they set for themselves, or at least knowing where they are on the battlefield. Setting those goals and seeing how I did allows me to maintain some modicum of control over my life and equilibrium.  

Monthly Critical Reflexivity. Critical reflexive practice involves thinking more critically to uncover the true meaning in our actions and their impact on others, while also challenging our basic assumptions and values. In simple terms: Does what you are doing matter? If so, how much?

Quarterly Retreat. For an extrovert, this might mean a family outing, a gathering with friends, a visit to a place of faith, a coworker event, or a community activity. Camping, hiking, fishing, and a movie-watching spree, etc. For me, it meant getting away from everyone. I believed in being a ‘kept man’ as a leader, so I was fully transparent. The downside of that? Everyone always wants a piece of the leader, so leaders never get any peace. I required some ‘me time’.

Balancing Our Balance

As you can see from the picture, balance does not teeter on a single critical point, but rather on several critical points that are aligned. I did not gain balance from just one action, but a series of actions that allowed my thinking and actions to align, at home, at work, and in the community. My 4Rs brought me balance.

How do you gain balance?

Reference:

Balance (2017). Google.

#balance #leadershipdevelopment #culture #reflection #performanceimprovment

Dr. Burl Randolph, Jr., DM, has a balancing act at MyWingman, LLC, a Business Leadership and Management Consulting company that “Helps Leaders Design Legacies That Last” (c) 2015.