How do you lead yourself? Is it a question you’ve ever thought about?
Resources on leadership styles, approaches and skills are abundant. And they are critical to develop in leading others. Meeting planners are pros at leading projects, teams, vendors, clients—everyone else. You’re the calm in the chaos, the fixers, the magic-makers. But here’s the truth: If you’re not leading yourself well, you’re building your leadership on a crumbling foundation.
I call this Bold Balance—the dynamic tension between bold vision and intentional self-leadership. Most leaders are wired for boldness, especially those in the meetings and events industry. You dream big. You drive results. You set the pace. But boldness without balance is a straight line to burnout. And if you’re sprinting toward success without checking your own fuel gauge, it’s only a matter of time before something breaks—your health, your relationships, your creativity, your edge.
So, what does Bold Balance look like in practice? Here are three ways to start leading yourself better.
1. Escape the 100% Trap
Let’s dismantle a myth: Giving 100% all the time is not the secret to success—it’s the recipe for exhaustion.
I learned this the hard way. As a young ice hockey player, I was taught to give my all, every shift, every game. That mindset followed me into the workplace: relentless drive, over-scheduling, guilt for taking breaks. The 100% Trap is seductive because it feels like achievement. But in reality, it’s often a mask for insecurity, perfectionism and fear of not being enough.
Read More: The Authenticity Effect: How Being You Sparks Collaboration & Success
Many of us have the belief that if we aren’t giving it our all—constantly—we are failing. That achiever and perfection mindset combined is ripe for burnout.
What’s Bold Balance? Shift your mindset to 70%. Not as a sign of slacking—but as a strategy for sustainable leadership. Aiming for a 70% average is what gives you room to adapt, breathe and stay creative under pressure. It’s your sweet spot between momentum and meltdown.
2. Prioritize With Purpose (Not Just Productivity)
Ever made a New Year’s resolution that fizzled out by February? You probably focused on what to change without getting clear on why it mattered.
That’s the difference between surface-level goals and sustainable growth. Leaders who operate without a strong sense of personal purpose and values are like ships without a compass—always moving, rarely arriving.
Purpose and values are your internal GPS. They help you say yes to the right things, and more importantly, say no to the wrong ones.
There’s no one-size-fits-all method for prioritization. You may need to experiment. Try the Eisenhower Matrix. Try “Hell Yes or No.” Try time-blocking. But whatever you choose, anchor it in your why—your personal north star.
What’s Bold Balance? Define your purpose. Clarify your values. Let them do the heavy lifting in your decision-making and prioritization approach.
3. Choose Breaks Over Busyness
Burnout and Breakdown aren’t the only dangers of 100%. There’s a third bad “B”: Busyness. In meetings and events, “busy” is practically a status symbol. We wear it like a badge of honor. But in the rush to check every box, we miss what matters most—relationships, creativity, fulfillment.
You wouldn’t schedule a 12-hour program without breaks for your attendees, so why do it to yourself?
Bold Balance means rethinking how you structure your days. Protect your breaks with the same ferocity you protect a client meeting. Plan your week with uninterrupted space—time to breathe, think, be.
This isn’t about slacking off. It’s about strategic pacing. It’s about knowing when to push, and when to pause.
What’s Bold Balance? Breaking away from busyness and making breaks the norm.
The Self-Leadership Mantra: Pace. Space. Grace.
If you want to lead yourself well, remember these three words:
- Pace – Slow your roll. Give yourself the gift of strategic momentum, not just speed.
- Space – Carve out room to think, breathe, and ideate. Space fuels creativity.
- Grace – Forgive yourself when you drop a ball. Perfection isn’t the goal—courage and resilience is.
Your best leadership moments won’t come when everything goes exactly as planned. They’ll come when you reflect, learn and adapt.
Read More: The Power of Everyday Gratitude in Leadership
Your First Step? Just One.
Leaders love a good plan. But before you map out your self-leadership overhaul, here’s my challenge: take one step today.
- Block 30 minutes for a walk without your phone.
- Write down your top three personal values.
- Say no to one meeting that doesn’t align with your priorities.
- Tell someone what your new boundary or commitment is.
Small changes are powerful when they’re consistent. That’s how Bold Balance is built—not in giant leaps, but in steady, intentional steps.
Bold Balance isn’t a destination, it’s a practice. It’s what keeps your flame lit, not just for the next event, but for the long haul. In an industry where everything is urgent, Bold Balance is your secret to staying grounded, purposeful and brilliant.
And that’s where real impact begins.
—
Virtue is a recovering perfectionist, coaching and aspiring leaders to escape the 100% perfectionist trap so they achieve bold balance and avoid burnout. She regularly speaks and runs workshops to share her 70% playbook with others to help them break through the growth ceiling.
She also serves on the board for Community Resource Services and the Global Business Travel Association. She also has a crazy goal to run the world and complete a half marathon on every continent and loves coaching her sons in ice hockey. Learn more on Virtue’s website and LinkedIn.
