Balance Is Broken: What to Drop, What to Protect, and Why 'Always On' Is Burning You Out

Episode Summary:
We’ve been sold a lie—balance doesn’t come from doing more, better. It comes from knowing what to drop. In this episode of Transform and Lead, I’m calling time on the pressure for high-performing women to be always available, always capable, and always holding it all together.

You’ll learn how to reframe your approach to balance using the glass balls vs rubber balls analogy—and why it’s not as simple as work = rubber and family = glass. I’ll share real stories, practical shifts, and a redefinition of success that centres your values, energy and leadership power.

If you’re feeling stretched, stuck, or like the price of ambition is your wellbeing—this one’s for you.

In this episode:

• Why the mental load—not your diary—is the real issue
• How to tell the difference between a glass ball and a rubber one
• What “always on” is costing your leadership and creativity
• A real-world client example of what happens when you let something bounce
• Four gentle, doable shifts to stop burnout before it starts

Listen if you’re:

• Tired of chasing the mythical work-life balance
• Feeling like you’re one notification away from snapping
• Ready to protect what matters most and release the rest
• Done with being the default organiser of everyone else’s needs

️ Try This:
At the end of the episode, I’ll walk you through a simple reflection to name what matters, what can wait, and how to make choices that align with your values—not with guilt.

Resources Mentioned:

• 2024 Burnout Stats: News.com.au Report
• Mental Load & Housework Gap: The Guardian
• Right to Disconnect in Australia: Worklogic

✨ Connect + Share:
Let’s stay in the arena together.
Come connect with me on LinkedIn—I’d love to hear what ball you’re choosing to drop this week, and which one you're finally choosing to protect.
And if this episode shifted something for you, share it with another woman who needs permission to let something bounce.

In this episode of Transform and Lead, Bron explores why pausing—really pausing—isn’t a luxury or a sign of weakness for high-performing executive women. It’s a bold strategic move. If you’ve climbed the ladder, hit the goals, and still find yourself wondering why it doesn’t feel like enough, this one’s for you.

Bron unpacks how thoughtful, intentional stillness can lead to the clarity, confidence and power that overachievement alone won’t give you. From career-defining pivots to re-anchoring in your values, we’re talking about the kind of pause that realigns you with what truly matters.

We’ll talk:

• Why women at the top still experience confidence wobbles
• How the pause helps you get clear on what you want—not just what looks good on paper
• What high-achieving women often get wrong about ambition and alignment
• How self-reflection powers self-awareness—and why it’s essential for authentic leadership
• 3 practical strategies for building meaningful pauses into your leadership rhythm

Referenced Research & Resources:

• How Self-Awareness Elevates Leadership Effectiveness – Forbes (2024)
• The Importance of Self-Awareness in Becoming Better Leaders – International Hospital Federation (IHF)
• The Power of Pause – Advisory Board (2024)
• Why Self-Reflection Is Key in Great Leadership – Walden University
• Don’t Underestimate the Power of Self-Reflection – Harvard Business Review (2022)
• Debriefing Enhances Team Learning – PubMed / Human Factors Journal (2013)

Share This Episode

Know a brilliant woman who’s been powering through without a pause? Send this her way. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Let’s Connect

Want to explore what a powerful pause might look like for you? Book a clarity session at transformandlead.com.au or come chat with Bron on LinkedIn.

Music by audionautix.com

In this episode of Transform and Lead, Bron gets real about something most high-performing women know all too well: the exhausting cycle of performing leadership instead of owning it. Bron shares her personal experience of burnout at Telstra, unpacks the difference between power and performance, and guides you through practical, real-world actions to step into leadership that feels like yours.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right and still questioning whether it’s enough—you’re not alone. And you’re not broken.

This episode is your permission slip to stop over-functioning and start leading with clarity, alignment, and confidence.

• Bron’s own burnout story and the red flags she ignored
• The difference between performing leadership and owning power
• How performance-based habits keep us stuck in survival mode
• Three practical strategies to shift from performance to power
• A gentle coaching prompt to help you take action this week

• Start a confidence journal to track moments where you lead without justification
• Set “pause points” in your day to switch from reactivity to intention
• Check requests against your values before saying yes
• Use generous language to say no without guilt
• Shift from problem-solving to asking better questions

Where are you still over-performing to feel safe?
And what would shift if you led like you were already trusted?

This week, pick just one moment to experiment. Say less. Trust yourself more.
You don’t need to change everything—just start.

• Invisible Labor in the Workplace: Explores how women often undertake unpaid tasks that benefit company culture but don't advance their careers. ​Syndio+1HuffPost+1
• The Double-Bind Dilemma for Women in Leadership: Discusses the challenges women face due to gender stereotypes and the "think leader, think male" mindset. ​org
• Women in the Workplace 2024 Report: Provides insights into the state of women in corporate America, highlighting ongoing challenges and progress. ​McKinsey & Company+1WSJ+1
• Women and Leadership: A Pew Research Centre survey examining public perceptions of women in leadership roles and the traits attributed to them. ​Pew Research Centre
• How Invisible Labor Affects Relationships: Investigates the impact of unrecognized cognitive labour on women's mental health and personal relationships. ​wisc.edu+1ArizonaPAL+1

• Explore Bron’s executive coaching programs: https://bronstephens.com/individual-programs/
• Connect on LinkedIn: Bron Stephens
• Know someone stuck in performance mode? Share this episode with her.

Music by audionautix.com