Want Better Balance? Start with Clearer Priorities.
Stressed. Overwhelmed. Overcommitted. Stretched too thin. Maybe even a little burnt out.
Whatever words you use to describe how you’re feeling, the goal is often the same: to find better balance, get better at saying “no,” and make time for the things that truly matter. It’s something many of us want, but far fewer of us know how to achieve. Achieving work-life balance for leaders isn’t about doing less, it’s about getting clearer on what matters most.
Most people can recognize when they’re stressed and overextended, but very few of us understand how we got there. All we know is that somewhere along the way, we said “yes” to too many things and now we’re living with the consequences. More often than not, the root cause isn’t poor time management, it’s a lack of clarity about our priorities. Without that clarity, it’s easy to start solving everyone else’s problems and quietly lose sight of our own.
Better Balance Starts with Clear Priorities
Time is the most precious commodity we possess. It’s finite. It doesn’t replenish. And once it’s gone, it’s gone. Treating time like the valuable resource it is becomes the first step toward better balance. The real question isn’t whether we have enough time, it’s how intentionally we choose to use it.
Start by identifying your big priorities. What are the areas of your life that deserve the majority of your time and energy? For many people, the list comes quickly: work, family, friendships, faith, volunteering, hobbies.
But simply rattling off a list isn’t the same as clarity.
The first step toward better balance isn’t just naming your priorities; it’s defining what they actually look like in your day-to-day life. Saying “my family is my priority” sounds meaningful, but what does that truly mean in practice?
What Clarity Actually Looks Like
For me, family has always been important, especially after the birth of our second child. I realized that a job requiring weekly national travel didn’t allow me to be the kind of mom I wanted to be or show up for my family in the way that mattered most.
Prioritizing my family means being present daily: walking my kids to the bus stop, sitting down together for dinner, and showing up to the after-school, evening, and weekend activities that shape their lives. That level of specificity is what turned a general value into a clear priority.
And that clarity changed how I made decisions.
It helped me recognize that my previous role no longer aligned with the life I wanted. I chose to leave that job and take a new position that reduced travel demands, a decision that ultimately allowed our family to relocate closer to extended family.
Work-Life Balance for Leaders Starts with Learning to Say No
Most people believe better balance comes from simply learning how to say “no” more often. But in my experience, both personally and through years of leadership consulting, that’s only part of the story.
Saying “no” is hard when you don’t know what you’re protecting, something recent leadership research highlights as a core skill for leaders managing overwhelm.
Without clear priorities, every request feels equally important. Every opportunity sounds like something you should say yes to. Leaders, in particular, fall into this trap because we’re wired to solve problems, support our teams, and step in when something needs attention. Over time, that instinct can turn into chronic overcommitment.
But when your priorities are clearly defined, saying “no” stops feeling like rejection. It starts feeling like alignment.
Instead of asking, “Can I make this work?” the question becomes, “Does this support the life and leadership I’m intentionally building?”
That shift changes everything.
Leadership Isn’t About Doing More. It’s About Choosing Better
One of the biggest misconceptions about leadership is that strong leaders say yes to everything. They attend every meeting, accept every opportunity, and carry more responsibility than anyone else in the room.
But the most effective leaders I’ve worked with don’t lead by constantly being available. They lead through intentionality.
They understand that every “yes” has a cost, not just to their schedule, but to their energy, their focus, and their presence with the people who matter most. Clear priorities as a leader give you the freedom to make decisions that align with your values rather than reacting to urgency.
And here’s what’s interesting: when leaders model that clarity, it gives others permission to do the same. Teams begin to see that balance isn’t about doing less work, it’s about doing the right work.
A Simple Filter for Better Decisions
If you’re feeling overwhelmed right now, start with a simple question before committing to something new:
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- Does this align with my top priorities?
- Will saying yes to this require me to sacrifice something that matters more?
- Am I choosing this because it’s important or because it’s hard to disappoint someone?
You don’t need a complicated system. You just need a clear lens through which you make decisions.
Balance isn’t created by accident. It’s created by intention. When your priorities are clear, saying no stops feeling like loss and starts feeling like leadership (and that’s the foundation of sustainable work-life balance for leaders).
About the Author
Jessica Gendron is a women’s leadership expert, culture strategist, and President of The Center for Leadership Excellence. She works with organizations and leaders to elevate leadership, strengthen culture, and build environments where people and performance thrive. Through speaking, consulting, and thought leadership, Jessica helps organizations make intentional decisions that align with their values, priorities, and long-term goals.