Top Executives Work Relationship and Work Family Balance : Taxonomy Development and Performance Implications Top executives are confronted with extremely high demands. As a result of these challenges some top executives risk derailing soon after having reached the top. Because of their important position in the organization a decline in top executives’ performance or their sudden absence is especially harmful to the success of their organizations. Eva Maria Bauer presents two theoretically grounded taxonomies which describe the different ways how top executives manage their work relationship and work family balance. Her empirical analysis comprises qualitative interviews with top executives as well as a survey of top executives and their life partners. The results show significant differences between the executives’ types concerning for example their well being satisfaction and performance. Conceptual Background Basics of the Empirical Studies Investigation of Top Executives Work Relationship Investigation of Top Executives Work Family Balance Discussion.