Equilibrium

Concepts
• Balance: State of equilibrium  Power or means to decide, or to assess
opposing forces
• Balance of work and life: power or ability to decide how to best allocate
time for work and personal life
• Fluidity: not be defined in rigid terms, to be flexible and adaptable;
make work / life decisions in a manner the balance can change and
adapt to the changing situations
• Work / life balance must be fluid; Ultimately you have to decide how to
balance your life
• Those decisions need to change over time as one’s life does
• 21years old and 45 years old have different balance decisions
Why work / Life out of balance
• Globalization: Work today is a 24 hour business
• Communication: Computers can be with us 24/7; instant email;
blackberrys; etc.
• Companies need people to work longer to save costs and keep the
company afloat
• Many working on more than one job to make ends meet
• Couples with dual careers: difficult to separate work from life
• Location changes; travel and other responsibilities
• Increased desire to achieve and create more income
• Commuting hours increasing
• A lack of feeling of accomplishment or contribution
Benefits of Work / Life balance
• Decreased stress or burnout
• Retention of staff
• Improved morale
• Reduction in sickness and absenteeism
• Reduction is Worker’s Compensation claims
• Improved teamwork and better working relationships among colleague
• Increased demonstration of initiative on the job
• Increased productivity
• Increased workplace satisfaction for both employees and managers
Key Concepts
• Four key concepts of satisfied individuals:
1. Attention to self needs: hobby, like shopping, play golf, interests
they enjoy doing. Attention to self needs provides with a feeling of
well being
2. Time with family and friends: A support group, family pet, play roles
of parents, sons/daughters, derive support from this group who
would not let you down
3. Work: Provides the income, sense of accomplishments, defines you
the person as a professional
4. Service: Working with a help group, working for a faith, volunteering
to help in the community
• May need to spend time in the four groups to achieve balance
Company assistance
• Company should help the bosses increase their skills in helping
employees manage work/life balance
1. Know their employees and what work/life balance issues each
employee under their supervision is facing
2. Learn to identify issues and how employees may act when they are
experiencing work/life balance issues
3. Praise and critique employees
4. Keep tabs on their own work loads (walk the talk)
5. Encourage each employee to take a vacation
6. Be clear about work expectations and establish trust between
employees and management
7. Think creatively about hiring and scheduling to meet employee
needs
Tips for work/life balance
• Assess one’s long-term and short-term goals
• Determine where work and life are most out of balance
• Make a check list with tasks that would help you balance one
component in your life
• Get buy-in from others
• Determine what benefits are available through your organization
• Attend workshops on topics such as stress, smoking cessation,
nutrition, time management, etc.
• Keep a time log
• Manage time
• Schedule mundane tasks; get it done
Tips for work/life balance
• Protect one day off each week
• Take care of yourself
• Get feedback from others
• Seek professional help when needed
• Take vacations
• Say no
• Organize the workplace
A cost benefit program process
Step1: Identify who your employees are and what their concerns and
needs are (don’t assume)
Step2: Identify how work/life issues may be impacting the bottom line
through absenteeism, high stress claims, turnover, and reputation in
the market place.
Step3: gain agreement from all critical sources (stakeholders,
management, employees)
Step4: establish clear targets for improvement. Provide management with
clear targets so they can see how and when the program is working
Step5: Establish an evaluating or monitoring program so you can manage
the results
A cost benefit program process
• Step6: Outline, create, and develop the course of action, procedures,
and programs, and document this in writing
• Step7: Start with a pilot. Controls can be put into place, and if anything
goes wrong, only a small segment of the population would be affected
• Step8: Supervise and evaluate the pilot program and the ongoing
program, and make changes as needed
• Step9: establish some form of maintenance plan, where the work/life
program is reviewed and changes are made
Balancing Managerial Life
Concepts
• We have only one life but live in three overlapping worlds: our business
world, our family world and our other social world
• As an entrepreneur or a business executive, you must give your best in
two different worlds
• The needs of your business and the needs of your family and friends
compete for your time and attention
• And both expect the very best from you
• To enjoy the rewards of business success and family fulfillment, you
need to constantly work to keep your balance
• To successfully tackle the challenges of a fast growing company, you
need all the personal resources that come from a balanced life.
Executive actions – the highest level
1. Executive success: Servant leadership, management skills, career
development
2. Loving relationships: serving family, friends and the needy
3. Healthy lifestyles: regular exercise, good diet, and regular medical
care
4. Emotional wellbeing: stress management, recreation, and
psychological stability
5. Spiritual maturity: Ethical character, commitment to ultimate
values, peace with the all mighty, and devoting oneself to life’s
greatest spiritual priorities
• You retreat regularly from your usual executive responsibilities to
rethink your personal vision, mission and action plans