The Secret Sauce to being a High Performing, Happy C-level Leader

In the high-stakes world of C-level leadership, relentless effort often comes at a high cost—burnout, emotional fatigue, and strained personal lives. Research from the Center for Creative Leadership highlights that 60% of executives have experienced trauma or significant personal crises impacting their ability to lead effectively. 

The Hidden Cost of High Performance 

Many leaders reach great heights but sacrifice well-being along the way. Stories of missed family moments, strained relationships, and neglected personal passions are common. Deloitte research shows that 77% of professionals report experiencing burnout, with C-level leaders being especially vulnerable. 

Arianna Huffington’s reflections after her own experience with burnout resonate with many: “We think, mistakenly, that success is the result of the amount of time we put in at work, instead of the quality of time we put in.”

A World Health Organization (WHO) report also revealed that working over 55 hours a week significantly raises the risk of severe health problems, including stroke and heart disease.

Leveraging the Intersection of Science and Spirituality... 

More and more  people are looking to quantum science, spiritual and wellness practices and  neuroscience to address challenges of burnout, low engagement and retention issues. 

In fact, Dr. Andrew Newberg's findings in “How God Changes Your Brain” illustrate how practices like meditation and prayer activate brain regions linked to resilience, empathy, and creative problem-solving.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s research on flow states highlights the benefits of deep focus—periods where leaders achieve high productivity without excessive hours. Even leading companies are recognizing this: Microsoft Japan’s four-day workweeks resulted in a 40% productivity increase, and Google has implemented micro-breaks to boost focus and creativity.

Performance Disorientation: Why Hustle Doesn’t Work 

Many high performers believe that continuous hard work guarantees success, but this mindset often leads to what I call Performance Disorientation—a cycle of intense effort followed by fatigue, anxiety, and sleeplessness. The impact is not only personal but organizational, as it diminishes team productivity, sales and overall effectiveness. Leaders need to understand that sustainable success comes from balanced effort, not just relentless grind.

The Power of Sleep and Dreams 

Sleep is an essential component of sustainable leadership. 

Dreams, often overlooked, can act as catalysts for breakthrough ideas and strategic clarity. Many great leaders and innovators, like Thomas Edison and Paul McCartney, leveraged the power of dreams for significant creative moments. Keeping a journal by your bed to capture these insights can translate into strategic decisions and innovative solutions.

Dr. Gina Poe’s, (Neuroscientist and Sleep Expert ) underscores in her research that REM sleep is vital for emotional resilience, cognitive health, and creative problem-solving. “Lucid dreaming can be used as a powerful tool,” Dr. Poe explains, “because there's so much plasticity that happens during REM sleep, to knock you out of that rut of reliving that event, and just change it.” Prioritizing sleep allows leaders to rejuvenate and approach their work with renewed focus and insight. 

Go Watch a Whale! 

Years ago, feeling exhausted after months of continuous projects, I decided to take a break and go whale watching with my husband James Taylor (not the singer!)  Despite the tour guide’s warnings of scarce sightings, two magnificent whales surfaced near our boat, moving in perfect synchrony, as their tails entered the water. 

In that moment, I realized nature’s powerful rhythms operate with strategic grace—a lesson that applies to leadership. We, too, can move from constant hustle to purposeful flow, aligning our work with natural rhythms to restore balance and energy. We just need to be aware of our bodies, emotions and be more still so that we can access the greater intelligence available to us. 

Observing large natural landscapes, such as the ocean, the horizon, or the stars help us to access more wonder, curiosity and awe. Even as little as 15 minutes outside changes the neuro-chemicals in our brain, increasing dopamine and serotonin, the ‘feel good’ chemicals.

Activities like hiking, surfing, and simply moving in nature have a profound effect on calming the mind and reestablishing inner balance. These moments allow leaders to step back from the hustle and tap into a deeper state of connection and creativity. 

Just as whales move in pods - each with their own language as they call across the miles and and navigate vast distances,  leaders can learn from this and model a life where they resist the distractions and hustle and instead - begin to create space for simply bringing back more joy and energy to their own life, then modelling this to their teams. ‘Calling them up’ so to speak to an inspired state of being.

Practical Steps for increasing productivity, flow and creativity and reducing burnout:

1. Master High Flow Habits™: Cultivate habits that enhance creativity, strategic thinking, and spiritual awareness. Use Whole Brain® Profiles,  Neuro-coaching and Flow Science Coaching  to understand brain plasticity and optimize energy, focus and time. 
2. Utilize Modern Recovery Tools: Leverage brainwave technology and cognitive recovery tools like Voice DNA analysis to maintain focus and clarity. 
3. Prioritize Sleep and Mental Renewal: Dr. Gina Poe’s decades of research into sleep highlights the importance of REM sleep for emotional resilience and problem-solving. Dreams provide an opportunity to process unresolved emotions. 
4. Schedule short breaks every two hours—even simple activities like walks, showers, or deep breathing exercises can rejuvenate the mind. Take a break before your focus begins to dissipate. While at first it might seem counterproductive to have more regular breaks during work hours, the cost of low productivity and engagement is far greater than most people realize. 
5. Integrate Spiritual Practices: Daily meditation or prayer can boost intuition and provide a deep sense of clarity, confidence and intuition.. Start with deep breathing to calm the mind, followed by gratitude practices. Listen for insights, whether they appear as ideas, visuals, or subtle messages throughout the day.
6. Engage in Group Flow: Join environments that inspire connection and shared creativity. Group activities can increase dopamine levels and release oxytocin, enhancing collective enjoyment and group synergy.
7. Want to remember your Dreams? Keep a journal by your bed to capture dream insights and moments of clarity. Upon waking, remain still and note down any ideas before they fade. This practice can translate into strategic breakthroughs and informed decisions.
8. Redefine Success True, sustainable leadership isn’t just about working harder—it’s about aligning mental, emotional, and spiritual energy. Leaders who adopt this integrated approach find themselves not just achieving, but thriving, inspiring their teams, and maintaining personal well-being.

For more information about how to work with Louise contact: [email protected].

Louise Taylor Neurostrategist | Consultant | Speaker

Founder of Neuroflow™ Methodology and Suite of High Flow Habits™ Programs. 

Louise is a Consultant to C-Level, Boards and Non Profits for more than 2 decades. She has held Executive Leadership Corporate Roles leading 12,000 people and is a 7 figure entrepreneur.

Louise brings a unique, fresh and powerful perspective and expertise to build People, Personal Brands, Sales and Performance.

Some of her clients include Nestle, Nutricia, HCF, University of NSW, Macquarie University, St Vincent De Paul, Uniting Financial, and many more, plus hundreds of individuals and business founders.

As seen on Thrive Global; Medium.com; CTN TV; Bondi Radio,Exploring the Marketplace Podcast (Shawn Bolz); CEO Monthly 3 Year CEO Award Winner, Crush it With Challenges $100k+ Challenge Award;  Direct Selling Industry Global Recruiting, Sales and Leadership Awards Winner. 

Louise is married to James Taylor (not the singer) and has 3 fantastic kids.