Walking the Talk: Leaders, Well-Being, and the Real Meaning of Balance

It’s summertime! At Interstates, that means many of our clients take advantage of the nice weather by implementing projects and doing scheduled shutdowns. It also means increased time away for summer vacations with family and friends.  

This summer, I’ve reflected on the example I’m setting as a leader—not just how I’m leading or making decisions, but how I balance work with my personal life. If I’m being honest, I’ve often found myself in the classic leadership trap: encouraging my team to take care of themselves by using their vacation or disconnecting after hours, while quietly ignoring that same advice myself. I don’t do it intentionally, and I know I’m not alone. For many leaders, the sense of responsibility to their work is so strong that stepping away, even briefly, can feel impossible or irresponsible.  

But lately, I’ve been thinking more about this contradiction. Telling others to prioritize their personal time and well-being while I continually interrupt family time to check email and take calls sends the wrong message. It’s the typical “do as I say, not as I do”—which is not strong leadership. However, I understand that work is important and things come up… the old saying goes, “old habits die hard.” My challenge, to both myself and you, is to start small on this journey.  

In the summer of 2023, a coworker and I had an interesting conversation. We both had upcoming week-long vacations with family and discussed how we tend to stay connected to work. As you might expect, we both admitted we had 1-2 calls scheduled that we “couldn’t move” and planned to check in every day “to address anything urgent and make life easier when we got back.” We made ourselves a challenge: let’s truly disconnect for the week by equipping our teams to cover while we’re gone.  

So I did! I hid all my business apps on my phone so I wasn’t tempted to look at them. From Monday morning to Saturday night, I didn’t check anything. I asked my team to only contact me in the event of an emergency. And guess what? No one called, and things were just fine when I got back. I’ll admit it felt strange, even uncomfortable. But I can honestly say that week traveling the Oregon and Washington coasts with my wife and kids was one of our best family memories in recent years. I’m confident that my physical and mental presence played a big role.  

Along with the intangible benefits I felt from this, there’s evidence to support the value of time spent away from work. Research shows that stepping away doesn’t just improve personal well-being; it boosts creativity, decision-making, and overall productivity. The World Health Organization has connected chronic overwork with a higher risk of burnout and health issues. Recent studies from Gallup also reveal that leaders who neglect their own balance are at greater risk for exhaustion. As leaders, these are good reminders that people follow our examples, whether we realize it or not.  

This is all easier said than done, and likely looks different for each person. For you, it may be disconnecting for an hour over lunch to recalibrate for the afternoon. Or perhaps you’re more like me and need to be present for your family on vacation. Time is precious, and we’re pulled in many different directions. I’m challenging myself—and I’m inviting all of you—to practice this. Let’s set the tone as leaders by prioritizing our families and our health, and encourage others to follow suit.   

Leadership isn’t about being available 24/7/365; it’s about knowing when to disconnect to give your family and friends your best, and then return to work recharged so your team and clients get your best. By doing this as leaders, we set a powerful example for our teams that lives beyond a single project or busy season in our work.