MAINTAIN WORK-LIFE BALANCE
WHY IT MATTERS
The amount of time and energy that a leader dedicates to their work will be directly proportional to their overall wellbeing. If time at work is too little or too much, it can cause an unhealthy imbalance to what should be a well-rounded approach to life. A person can’t be their very best at work if their life comprises nothing but work. Leaders that help people maintain balance between their work duties and their personal life will increase their people’s dedication and performance on the job. They will keep them from becoming worn out or worn down. Leaders that break the balance between people’s work and personal life plant seeds of animosity that will someday turn against them as people begin to wonder what it is all for.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
Leaders that maintain an appropriate balance between their work and non-work life, and help others do the same, are happier and ultimately perform better over time. They know who they are. They know what matters to them. They know their contribution to the world is not one-dimensional. They are determined to be successful in their profession but are equally passionate about other goals in life.
Leaders that maintain work-life balance take life one day at a time. They know that balance comes through the little decisions that are made each day. They make their daily decisions based on their priorities. They are planners. They are equipped to make the decisions that will help them maintain balance between their work and their personal life when they arise.
Leaders who maintain work-life balance try to keep perspective on what really matters in life so they don’t spend too much time in any one area. They know how easy it is to lose perspective of what is right in front of them. They are constantly aware if their expended energy in one part of their life is beginning to cause detriment to another.
Leaders that maintain work-life balance have strategies to help them manage the day-to-day stress of their work. They know what they love to do and how to rejuvenate, keep life fun, and make life interesting. They care for their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Leaders that maintain work-life balance are willing to take time off work. They refuse to be a workaholic. They dedicate themselves to their work when they are in the office, but aren’t afraid to go on vacation or take a day off. They know their work will always be waiting for them when they return to the office.
Leaders that maintain work-life balance make it easy for employees to also maintain an appropriate work-life balance. They recognize the importance of people’s personal life. They don’t see people as machines. They know that if people are balanced they will be better and happier employees.
Leaders who maintain work-life balance help their people when they are out of balance. They never come across as intrusive, but they do take the initiative to invite people to slow down, take care of themselves, and have a life outside of work. They want people to have a full and fulfilled life.
BELIEFS
BEST PRACTICES
SELF-REFLECTION
The amount of time and energy that a leader dedicates to their work will be directly proportional to their overall wellbeing. If time at work is too little or too much, it can cause an unhealthy imbalance to what should be a well-rounded approach to life. A person can’t be their very best at work if their life comprises nothing but work. Leaders that help people maintain balance between their work duties and their personal life will increase their people’s dedication and performance on the job. They will keep them from becoming worn out or worn down. Leaders that break the balance between people’s work and personal life plant seeds of animosity that will someday turn against them as people begin to wonder what it is all for.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
Leaders that maintain an appropriate balance between their work and non-work life, and help others do the same, are happier and ultimately perform better over time. They know who they are. They know what matters to them. They know their contribution to the world is not one-dimensional. They are determined to be successful in their profession but are equally passionate about other goals in life.
Leaders that maintain work-life balance take life one day at a time. They know that balance comes through the little decisions that are made each day. They make their daily decisions based on their priorities. They are planners. They are equipped to make the decisions that will help them maintain balance between their work and their personal life when they arise.
Leaders who maintain work-life balance try to keep perspective on what really matters in life so they don’t spend too much time in any one area. They know how easy it is to lose perspective of what is right in front of them. They are constantly aware if their expended energy in one part of their life is beginning to cause detriment to another.
Leaders that maintain work-life balance have strategies to help them manage the day-to-day stress of their work. They know what they love to do and how to rejuvenate, keep life fun, and make life interesting. They care for their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Leaders that maintain work-life balance are willing to take time off work. They refuse to be a workaholic. They dedicate themselves to their work when they are in the office, but aren’t afraid to go on vacation or take a day off. They know their work will always be waiting for them when they return to the office.
Leaders that maintain work-life balance make it easy for employees to also maintain an appropriate work-life balance. They recognize the importance of people’s personal life. They don’t see people as machines. They know that if people are balanced they will be better and happier employees.
Leaders who maintain work-life balance help their people when they are out of balance. They never come across as intrusive, but they do take the initiative to invite people to slow down, take care of themselves, and have a life outside of work. They want people to have a full and fulfilled life.
BELIEFS
- Success at work matters. Success at work is important. However, the goal of life isn’t success at work, it is success in life.
- Life has so much more to offer than just work, so don’t waste your time just being stuck at the office.
- Your work can’t be its best unless you are at your best, which means caring for yourself physically, emotionally, and mentally.
- Everyone needs the opportunity to rejuvenate. Taking time to rest is a necessary part of human nature.
- The workaholic will either crash from exhaustion or will look back on their life with regret.
- Life was meant to allow for work and play. Leaders get in trouble when they let one consume the other.
- Everyone needs a way to release stress and center his or her life. A stressed-out leader will never be a great leader.
- You don’t have to let any part of your life overly dictate another. Your life is yours, and you can choose what matters most.
BEST PRACTICES
- Make sure to not neglect your personal life.
- Know when you are stressed out.
- Find ways to release stress.
- Prioritize between your work and personal life.
- Balance your work and non-work duties.
- Care for your personal health and well-being.
- Take days off work to rejuvenate.
- Seek harmony between work and personal goals.
- Encourage others to care for their well-being.
- Have goals for your life that go beyond work.
- Allow others time for their personal life.
- Don’t sacrifice your personal life too much.
- Keep the big picture of your life in perspective.
- Know how to relax and unwind.
- Make time to rejuvenate and refresh.
- Be flexible enough to adjust life each day.
- Manage your time to meet all your life needs.
- Do not let one area of life dominate the other.
- Multi-task multiple areas of your life.
- Give your very best to all areas of your life.
- Encourage balance without being preachy.
- Give people time off of work.
SELF-REFLECTION
- Do I have an equal desire to be successful in all areas of my life, or do I focus more on one area above another?
- Do I see work-life balance as something I can choose, or do I see it as something too elusive to ever hope for?
- Do I maintain perspective on my life’s bigger picture, or do I let my life become too one-dimensional?
- Do I have ways to escape the pressure of work, or do I never find release from the stress?
- Do I care for my mental, emotional, and physical health, or do I allow myself to become a victim of my work?
- Do I take time off of work to rejuvenate, or do I feel the need to forever be a workaholic?
- Do I think the work will stop if I am not there, or do I realize the work will always be waiting for me?
- Do I allow people to have balance in their life, or do I extract from them so much they have nothing left to give?
- Don’t tilt so far towards the “life” side of “work-life balance” that you don’t give your work the dedication it deserves.
- Don’t lose credibility because you don’t appear to make the personal sacrifices others are willing to make for the work.
- Don’t allow your personal life into the workplace so much it begins to be inappropriate, unprofessional, or a distraction.
- Family is always more important than work.
- I don’t compromise family activities to complete work tasks.
- Work stress does not follow me home.
- I have a hobby that I really enjoy.
- I never feel guilty when I take a vacation day.
- I do not handle work-related calls or emails out of the office.