The Leadership Juggle

Leadership so often feels like a juggling act.

There’s strategy, staff, safeguarding, spreadsheets. The inbox that never empties. The meetings, the mentoring, the unexpected phone call that derails the carefully planned day. Then, layered quietly beneath it all, the emotional load: holding space for others, showing strength when you feel unsure, carrying responsibility even when it feels heavy.

Most leaders I work with are juggling so many things at once, it’s a wonder they’re still standing. But they are. Just. And more often than not, they’re doing it silently—holding it together for the sake of everyone else.

One of the most powerful metaphors I’ve ever come across is this:

“Imagine you're juggling a mix of rubber and glass balls. The trick is knowing which ones will bounce if dropped, and which will shatter.”

The hard part? When everything feels important, it’s difficult to tell which is which.

Not everything is a glass ball

In leadership, the pressure to hold everything can be overwhelming. But not everything needs to be held equally. Some things can wait. Some things can wobble. Some things—dare I say it—can be let go.

A missed deadline might bounce.
An unreturned email might bounce.
A slightly imperfect performance report might bounce.

But your wellbeing?
Your values?
Your integrity?
The psychological safety of your team?
The relationships that keep you grounded?

Those are glass.

When we try to juggle everything as though it’s made of glass, we exhaust ourselves. And ironically, that’s when the real glass balls begin to fall.

Leadership doesn’t mean catching every ball

So much of leadership is invisible. The small moments. The unseen care. The steadying of others when you feel unsteady yourself. It’s easy to believe you’re only as good as your output. But leadership isn’t about being endlessly capable. It’s about being clear on what matters most—and being brave enough to protect it.

Sometimes, that means saying no.
Sometimes, it means asking for help.
Sometimes, it means admitting that something has to drop—and letting it.

This isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom.

The power of pausing

The juggling never really stops—but what changes is how you hold it.

When was the last time you stepped back and asked yourself:

• What am I holding that I don’t need to?

• What would happen if I dropped this one?

• Which of these balls is truly glass?

Leadership is demanding, yes. But it can also be intentional. Compassionate. Sustainable.

It starts with the courage to stop spinning for long enough to decide what really deserves your hands—and your heart.

You don’t have to juggle alone.

Coaching creates the space to step back. To reflect. To make sense of the noise.
To gently untangle the glass from the rubber—and remind yourself that you're allowed to put some things down.

If that feels like what you need, I’d love to walk with you.