Showcase Balance by Modeling Healthy Culture

When the CEO of a fast-growing fintech insisted on late-night video calls, employees scrambled to keep up. Morale dipped, turnover spiked, and burnout became the norm. Then a new COO joined with a different approach: she publicly blocked her calendar at 6 p.m. every day and shared those slots with the company. She regularly left on time to coach her kids’ soccer team and posted photos afterward in the Slack channel. Soon, others felt safe to close their laptops at 6, too. Within three months, employee engagement scores rose by 20%, while after-hours requests dropped by 40%. Business results didn’t suffer; in fact, the refreshed teams hit their targets more consistently. Behavioral research shows that leaders’ visible habits set cultural norms. When managers model balance, they give permission—and a powerful cue—to the entire organization.

You’ll coordinate a team meeting to announce your new 6 p.m. shutdown and share your personal reason—family dinner, gym. Then, each evening, close your laptop and send a ‘Done for today!’ message in the team chat. If email requests come in, gently reply during work hours to set expectations. By embodying balanced habits, you’ll cultivate a healthier culture where everyone feels free to sign off—and productivity will grow.