Lead Smarter, Stress Less: The Balance Shift Every Leader Needs (Day 5)

Host Karen Gombault speaks with Viktoria Hamma, a biopsychosocial wellness practitioner and author of "The Middle Path", about the critical role of balance in leadership, decision-making, and well-being.

They explore why high-achieving professionals—especially women—struggle with stress, why balance isn’t about doing less, and how simple, strategic shifts can drive both personal and professional success.

Key Takeaways

1️⃣ Balance Isn’t a Destination—It’s a Scale – True balance doesn’t mean equal time for everything; it’s about making small adjustments to prevent burnout and optimize energy.

2️⃣ Stress Is the Silent Career Killer – Chronic stress impacts physical health, gut function, and cognitive performance, reducing long-term success and well-being.

3️⃣ Better Balance = Smarter Decisions – High achievers often default to reactive decision-making. Taking pauses, even short ones, improves judgment and creativity.

4️⃣ Small Shifts Create Big Change – A five-minute walk, a deep breath, or setting a clear boundary can dramatically improve stress resilience and effectiveness.

5️⃣ Leaders Must Model Balance – Organizations that integrate balance into workplace culture see higher engagement, retention, and better overall performance.

Success doesn’t have to come at the cost of well-being. Leaders who embrace balance not only improve their own performance but create healthier, more productive workplaces. Ignoring balance leads to burnout, poor decision-making, and long-term health consequences.

Final message from Viktoria: "Balance isn’t about perfection. It’s about small, intentional choices that add up to a sustainable, fulfilling life".

Where to Find Viktoria:

Viktoria@viktoriahamma.com

www.linkedin.com/in/viktoriahamma

www.instagram.com/vikkah

Get her book here: The Middle Path: Finding Balance, Health and Happiness in a World of Extremes

https://www.amazon.ca/Middle-Path-Finding-Happiness-Extremes-ebook/dp/B0DT2LW433