Abstract
M.Phil.
The purpose of this study was to investigate a problem that people experience
increasingly nowadays, namely to experience life balance, from a Personal
and Professional Leadership perspective. Attention was given to the concept
"life balance" by describing and explaining the term, as well as to the various
life dimensions in which man functions. The possible contribution of Personal
and Professional Leadership in the establishment and maintenance of life
balance was also analysed and described.
In this study on the establishment and maintenance of life balance, the
research strategy used was descriptive, i.e. a generalising motive was used.
The primary research methods used in the study included word analysis,
concept analysis and a literature study. A word and concept analysis of the
word "life balance" was undertaken, while a literature study was conducted to
investigate current data documented on the subject of life balance.
The various life dimensions in which man operates, as well as the potential
contribution of Personal and Professional Leadership in the establishment and
maintenance of life balance, were described.
The most important findings of the study are as follows:
• People are tired of their hectic lives and long for a balanced,
harmonious life.
• People often feel torn between the obligations of a job, family, friends,
the community and their own personal needs.
• People strive towards balance. This implies a higher quality of life- a
life in which they have more time for themselves and their
relationships, as well as more time to invest in their emotional, physical
and spiritual well-being.
vii
• Man functions within different life dimensions, which can mainly be
categorised in the physical, social, spiritual, intellectual, emotional and
financial dimensions.
• Personal Leadership requires the individual to accept responsibility for
his own life and the choices he makes, to know who he is, where he
stands with himself, where he wants to be and how to get there.
• The realisation of a balanced life requires of the individual some "selfawareness"
- he should be aware of any indication of imbalance in any
of his life dimensions, of what he sees as a balanced life and how he
can accomplish such a life.
• In order to establish and maintain life balance in all the different life
dimensions in which a person functions, it is essential that the person
should know exactly who he is, where he stands with himself, what he
wants to do most, where he wants to be in his life and how to get there.
• Steps that the individual can take to maintain better balance within all
his life dimensions, include, amongst others, a process of value
clarification, a personal mission statement, adhering to a set of
objectives for specific life dimensions and continuous evaluation of his
progress.
From the study, it can be concluded that Personal and Professional
Leadership can definitely contribute to the establishment and maintenance of
life balance. Not only does the individual have a choice, but also a definite
responsibility towards himself to experience real balance in life.