Thank you for joining us today on the Balance and Beyond Podcast. We're so glad you carved out this time for yourself!

If you’re keen to dive deeper into our world, here are our socials where you can discover more about the toolkit that has helped thousands of women create a life of balance.

Website: www.balanceinstitute.com
Podcast Website: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterbalanceinstitute/
Instagram: @betterbalanceinstitute

Thanks again for tuning in, and we'll see you next time on the Balance & Beyond Podcast!

Feeling stuck in your career despite your outstanding work? You might be caught in the high performer trap—a frustrating place where your exceptional skills keep you valued right where you are, while leadership opportunities pass you by.

This eye-opening episode reveals the five hidden reasons ambitious women get overlooked for promotions, highlighting surprising ways your strengths might actually be holding you back. From building your reputation as the indispensable "go-to person" to measuring your worth by tasks completed rather than impact created, these patterns create an invisible ceiling on your career advancement.

We dive deep into why waiting for recognition (rather than claiming it), lacking time for strategic thinking, and prioritizing being liked over being respected can fundamentally limit your leadership potential. Most importantly, you'll discover how these patterns aren't just external obstacles—they're deeply connected to internal conditioning that affects how you show up at work.

The journey from high performer to true leader requires more than just working harder or "leaning in"—it demands understanding how your brain works, establishing powerful boundaries, and releasing people-pleasing tendencies that keep you from commanding the respect you deserve. By recognizing these traps, you can begin dismantling them and create space for genuine leadership to emerge.

Ready to break through these barriers and elevate your career? This episode provides the crucial first step—recognizing what's really holding you back. For those ready to take action, our new Elevate leadership program offers women-specific strategies for claiming your leadership power without compromising your authentic self. Visit balanceinstitute.com/elevate to learn how you can transform from being merely valued to being truly seen as the leader you know you can be.

To view the Transcript from this week's episode, visit our Balance & Beyond Podcast webpage: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast/2025/93

Thank you for joining us today on the Balance and Beyond Podcast. We're so glad you carved out this time for yourself!

If you’re keen to dive deeper into our world, here are our socials where you can discover more about the toolkit that has helped thousands of women create a life of balance.

Website: www.balanceinstitute.com
Podcast Website: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterbalanceinstitute/
Instagram: @betterbalanceinstitute

Thanks again for tuning in, and we'll see you next time on the Balance & Beyond Podcast!

Busy seasons don't have to be something we merely survive and endure – they can be transformed into periods of growth, connection, and unexpected joy with the right mindset shifts.

• Acknowledge that busy times are just a season and won't last forever
• Recognize that these chaotic years with children will later be remembered as precious times of closeness
• Practice "microdosing" self-care by finding fulfillment in smaller moments rather than waiting for perfect conditions
• Use drive time with kids as valuable connection opportunities rather than viewing it as a chore
• Give yourself grace by adjusting your standards and focusing on what truly matters to your family
• Choose which aspects of life deserve your energy during busy periods
• Consider joining activities yourself rather than just facilitating everyone else's experiences

Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear it today, and don't forget to subscribe to Balance and Beyond for full episodes and more of these bite-sized breakthroughs.

Thank you for joining us today on the Balance and Beyond Podcast. We're so glad you carved out this time for yourself!

If you’re keen to dive deeper into our world, here are our socials where you can discover more about the toolkit that has helped thousands of women create a life of balance.

Website: www.balanceinstitute.com
Podcast Website: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterbalanceinstitute/
Instagram: @betterbalanceinstitute

Thanks again for tuning in, and we'll see you next time on the Balance & Beyond Podcast!

Power isn't something bestowed upon us—it's something we reclaim. For too many ambitious women, the path to leadership has been paved with burnout, invisibility, and frustration despite exceptional hard work. Why? Because we were never taught to play the game of power and politics.

From childhood, we've absorbed the message that power is something dirty or manipulative, something wielded over others rather than harnessed within ourselves. We've believed the fairy tale that exceptional work will eventually be recognisedrecognized, while watching others advance past us. When we do try to step into leadership positions, we often mimic male power structures that feel fundamentally inauthentic, becoming what might be called "pink men" in leadership roles.

The truth is revolutionary: your nervous system dictates how much power you can hold. When you're constantly seeking external validation, perfectionism, or approval, you'll never fully step into your authority. The signs are everywhere—over-explaining, softening your voice, asking for permission, backing down. These aren't character flaws; they're symptoms of a nervous system that doesn't yet feel safe holding power. True power looks different. It's holding tension without discomfort, disagreeing without defensiveness, making decisions without seeking permission, and setting boundaries without guilt.

Women possess extraordinary tools for authentic leadership—intuition, emotional intelligence, and sensitivity that become superpowers when properly harnessed.

Ready to transform how you lead? Join our new six-week program "Elevate: The Art of Leadership" where you'll learn to develop executive presence, regulate your nervous system, and lead with your authentic feminine edge. Your journey to reclaiming your power begins at balanceinstitute.com/elevate.

To view the Transcript from this week's episode, visit our Balance & Beyond Podcast webpage: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast/2025/92

Thank you for joining us today on the Balance and Beyond Podcast. We're so glad you carved out this time for yourself!

If you’re keen to dive deeper into our world, here are our socials where you can discover more about the toolkit that has helped thousands of women create a life of balance.

Website: www.balanceinstitute.com
Podcast Website: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterbalanceinstitute/
Instagram: @betterbalanceinstitute

Thanks again for tuning in, and we'll see you next time on the Balance & Beyond Podcast!

Fresh from hosting two transformative weekend retreats with 36 women, I'm sharing the essential principles that made these gatherings life-changing experiences for everyone involved. These principles aren't just for retreats but can transform how you approach every area of your life.

• Our retreats are known for beautiful venues, amazing food, great wine and guilt-free indulgence
• Working in flow state with no rigid agenda allows for true co-creation and intuitive guidance
• Vulnerability is not weakness but a source of immense power when shared from an authentic place
• The first person brave enough to cry gives everyone permission to be vulnerable
• Deep connection with like-minded women provides nourishment many didn't know they were missing
• Carefully curated gatherings create space for profound healing that might otherwise take years
• When flow, vulnerability and connection combine, women step fully into their power
• These principles create a flywheel effect that transforms how we show up in all areas of life

Visit balanceandbeyond.com/future to join our RISE leadership program with a free workshop on the future of female leadership starting April 4th.

Thank you for joining us today on the Balance and Beyond Podcast. We're so glad you carved out this time for yourself!

If you’re keen to dive deeper into our world, here are our socials where you can discover more about the toolkit that has helped thousands of women create a life of balance.

Website: www.balanceinstitute.com
Podcast Website: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterbalanceinstitute/
Instagram: @betterbalanceinstitute

Thanks again for tuning in, and we'll see you next time on the Balance & Beyond Podcast!

Feeling stretched too thin in your leadership journey? You're not alone. The pace of change in 2025 demands a new approach to success—one that doesn't sacrifice your wellbeing on the altar of achievement.

My deep dive into the three critical leadership skills that ambitious women need right now reveals surprising truths about what's actually holding you back. First, authenticity has become your greatest competitive advantage in an AI-dominated landscape. When everything else can be perfected with technology, your humanity—complete with quirks and vulnerabilities—is what makes you irreplaceable. Yet many workplaces have become coldly transactional, with meaningful connections replaced by robotic interactions. Learning to be strategically vulnerable, especially in those small moments before meetings or during brief exchanges, creates the foundation for genuine leadership influence.

Equally important is visibility—a skill many talented women avoid due to discomfort with self-promotion. Like it or not, your excellent work doesn't speak for itself anymore. While you're heads-down producing exceptional results, others (often men) are actively claiming the spotlight and getting promoted. The truth? Your nervous system needs conditioning to feel safe while being seen, whether you're presenting to senior executives or sharing content online. The most successful leaders aren't necessarily the most capable—they're the ones who've mastered both capability and visibility.

Finally, adaptability separates those who will thrive from those who'll burn out. When you're already running on empty, even small disruptions can cause complete system failure. True adaptability isn't about fragmenting yourself further—it's about creating enough capacity to bend without breaking. This means prioritizing self-care, letting go of perfectionism, and developing the confidence to pivot quickly when circumstances change.

Ready to transform your leadership approach and create sustainable success? These skills aren't just nice-to-haves—they're the foundation of a leadership style that allows you to advance your career while maintaining balance in every area of life. What leadership skill will you focus on developing first?

To view the Transcript from this week's episode, visit our Balance & Beyond Podcast webpage: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast/2025/91

Thank you for joining us today on the Balance and Beyond Podcast. We're so glad you carved out this time for yourself!

If you’re keen to dive deeper into our world, here are our socials where you can discover more about the toolkit that has helped thousands of women create a life of balance.

Website: www.balanceinstitute.com
Podcast Website: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterbalanceinstitute/
Instagram: @betterbalanceinstitute

Thanks again for tuning in, and we'll see you next time on the Balance & Beyond Podcast!

Thank you for joining us today on the Balance and Beyond Podcast. We're so glad you carved out this time for yourself!

If you’re keen to dive deeper into our world, here are our socials where you can discover more about the toolkit that has helped thousands of women create a life of balance.

Website: www.balanceinstitute.com
Podcast Website: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterbalanceinstitute/
Instagram: @betterbalanceinstitute

Thanks again for tuning in, and we'll see you next time on the Balance & Beyond Podcast!

Ever wondered why working harder isn't getting you ahead? Despite your exceptional output, strategic thinking, and dedication, do you find yourself passed over for opportunities while watching others progress with seemingly half the effort?

In this eye-opening exploration of leadership barriers, we dive deep into the three invisible traps keeping ambitious women stuck in cycles of burnout and career stagnation. The "workhorse trap" might be the most dangerous—that childhood-instilled belief that if you just work hard enough, someone will eventually notice and reward you. We unpack how this industrial-era mindset actively prevents your progression into strategic leadership roles while fueling exhaustion.

The "perfectionism paradox" compounds this problem, creating a crippling cycle where you're both drowning in tasks and spending disproportionate time on details that ultimately don't matter. Rather than appearing thorough, this often damages your reputation by making you seem slow, defensive about feedback, and unable to prioritize effectively. Meanwhile, the "permission loop" keeps you waiting to be tapped on the shoulder while others advocate for themselves. This explains why women typically wait until they can fulfill 85-90% of job requirements before applying, while men will confidently apply with just 25%. 

Breaking these cycles doesn't require working harder—it requires working differently. By recognizing these traps and choosing to step out of them, you can accelerate your leadership journey, reclaim your strategic voice, and create success without sacrificing your wellbeing. Ready to write yourself a permission slip for the leadership role you know you deserve? This episode provides the blueprint for breaking free.

To view the Transcript from this week's episode, visit our Balance & Beyond Podcast webpage: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast/2025/90

Thank you for joining us today on the Balance and Beyond Podcast. We're so glad you carved out this time for yourself!

If you’re keen to dive deeper into our world, here are our socials where you can discover more about the toolkit that has helped thousands of women create a life of balance.

Website: www.balanceinstitute.com
Podcast Website: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterbalanceinstitute/
Instagram: @betterbalanceinstitute

Thanks again for tuning in, and we'll see you next time on the Balance & Beyond Podcast!

Thank you for joining us today on the Balance and Beyond Podcast. We're so glad you carved out this time for yourself!

If you’re keen to dive deeper into our world, here are our socials where you can discover more about the toolkit that has helped thousands of women create a life of balance.

Website: www.balanceinstitute.com
Podcast Website: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterbalanceinstitute/
Instagram: @betterbalanceinstitute

Thanks again for tuning in, and we'll see you next time on the Balance & Beyond Podcast!

Ever wondered how to juggle a bustling household, demanding career, and personal hobbies without losing your balance? In today’s episode, Jo answers the top three questions she gets asked: how does she juggle all the parts of her life, what rituals keep her sane and who supports her on this journey of life.

Discover the secrets to achieving harmony as Jo shares her journey of balancing two energetic children, a husband, a household, and her own passions. This episode of Balance and Beyond tackles the myth that managing these components seamlessly is impossible and offers insights into how you, too, can redefine success and balance on your own terms.

To view the Transcript from this week's episode, visit our Balance & Beyond Podcast webpage: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast/2025/89

Thank you for joining us today on the Balance and Beyond Podcast. We're so glad you carved out this time for yourself!

If you’re keen to dive deeper into our world, here are our socials where you can discover more about the toolkit that has helped thousands of women create a life of balance.

Website: www.balanceinstitute.com
Podcast Website: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterbalanceinstitute/
Instagram: @betterbalanceinstitute

Thanks again for tuning in, and we'll see you next time on the Balance & Beyond Podcast!