It is important to consider the long-term outlook when it comes to work-life balance decisions.

Jena McGregor, former editor of Businessweek, wrote in her Washington Post On Leadership blog that every leader has to deal with moments in their career when their personal and professional life come into conflict.

In her view, the key is to look for the "upside" of missing a personal commitment. For instance, a professional in an executive interim management position might miss their son's sports game, as they know it could lead to more work, which could then help them provide for their family.

She made her comments in reference to the situation in the USA, in which potential Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum is being faced with the choice of whether to look after his sick daughter or continue his campaign.

Ms McGregor said: "Family matters, and how leaders wrestle with the person versus professional conflicts of their lives, are their own decisions. For political leaders, however, they'll have to remember that voters will be watching how their personal choices reflect their professional views."

For business leaders, the choice is far less public, which allows them to look after their work-life balance in whichever way they see fit. This need for people to take responsibility for their decisions is a core part of writer Nigel Marsh's ideology, according to the The Globe and Mail.

As well as this emphasis on personal choice, he recommends that executives face the reality of their work, consider the time frame that they judge themselves over and search for meaningful ways to add spiritual balance to their lives.

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