Summary insights from over 15 CEOs on balance in their personal lives and businesses

What do more than 15 CEOs have to say when we ask them about how they create more balance in their personal lives and in their companies?

I asked that question Franky Van Hamme , who has 30 years of management experience at leading international companies, was the one I interviewed for the podcast. Franky also contributed insights from the 12 preceding CEO interviews for my new book chapter in "Personal Leadership."

🌿In the Zinhoeve we had a powerful conversation about these insights!

In summary:

Monitoring your own balance

1. Find out what you need as a person.

2 social contacts: friends, family, professional workspace

3. Relaxation: different for everyone. It's not static. It evolves with things that come your way, both personally and professionally. The trick is to find a balance again and again.

“learn to embrace the silence”

*the importance of nature

*ensure that what you are doing crystallizes and becomes clear

*“being in the moment” to realize that you need this to slow down

*staying true to your inner compass: your own set of values, daring to look in the mirror: are you not being lived, to what extent are you still true to who you really are?

*very individual: training, retreat, mindfulness, etc.

Large or small organization: the principles apply in both

*big: delegating, but also in small organizations letting go and trusting your people

*Enthusiastic employees take the burden off the CEO: surround yourself with strong people who can do their thing

*letting go and taking care of yourself

Balance between continuity and recognizing the need for change

for example, keep up with new technologies, sometimes relying more on the younger generation for this

The need for balance in the current zeitgeist: taking care of yourself and your people.

This wasn't discussed as much in the past, about 20-30 years ago, it was more about persevering. Now: dare to say you need help. Create an atmosphere where you actually do check-ins with your people: how are you doing yourself? Truly listen to each other with empathy, and make better, more informed, decisive decisions based on that. Your personal life has a significant impact on how you feel. This way, you can also help people at work feel better about themselves, and that things go better at work as well.

Keep challenging yourself, look for a sounding board

For example, find a coach who suits you and who dares to challenge you and hold up a mirror to see if you are well-balanced.

=> Create an environment that inspires trust and safety, so that you create a culture in which people can authentically express how they are doing and show vulnerability.

Role of leadership to hold up a mirror and show concern.

Often the people who are most committed and driven are the ones who push themselves and go beyond boundaries.

As a company, make sure you have a very clear mission, vision, strategy and an associated value framework.

Well-being at work is a very important part of this—and don't deviate from that. Your people are the capital that ensures results will follow.

In summary, across all ten batteries from our house of well-being and productivity:

Culture seems to be the most important or central issue, and certainly that vulnerability is allowed, that it starts at the top, that there's the courage to transcend shame. It comes down to leadership to embody that culture. Employees, too, must feel empowered to speak up. So, you remain personally responsible, but the environment can provide you with the resources and sounding board to be able/courageous to do so.

What connects our CEOs:

Awareness of the importance of feeling good about yourself as a person and as an employee.

They've learned this through trial and error, because they also say: you have to be vigilant not to be distracted by the hustle and bustle of the day, and that you can be there for your team. They develop empathetic leadership that is also very decisive, with people truly on board. Sometimes this culture was instilled from the founders, sometimes CEOs gradually became convinced of it.

Final tips:

Challenge yourself, keep learning, and try new things. So you'll constantly be confronted with your pitfalls or demons that are difficult to let go of.

Seek inspiration from colleagues, networks, ... so that you get feedback and don't become stuck and keep questioning yourself!

"Get everyone on board: culture only becomes a strength when it is supported by everyone!"

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