Balanced Leadership Tips #1
August’s Topic: Balanced Leadership
The most successful leaders are the ones who work the hardest at balancing all aspects of their lives. And, when they do, they find that they really make a difference to their organization and to the world. Life almost always is unbalanced, out of kilter, listing or leaning in one direction or another. The mark of a good leader is the ability to lead in all kinds of circumstances. In the toughest of times, leaders need to stand on a rock-solid set of core values and use their skills and strength to help steady the ship.
‘Great leaders constantly strive to strike a balance between work and the other realms of their lives.’
Rob Pasick
Personal Tips
- Meet with your manager and ask to have metrics to judge your performance. In other words, help your boss see that hours don’t equal performance.
- Plan a special trip with your family - one that you can’t easily get out of - and make reservations so that you are locked in.
- On free days treat your family and friends as well as you do your work friends. Schedule regular times with them to reconnect and catch up.
- Let work know that you will not be checking email or phone after a certain time each day. Turn off the PDA when meeting with friends and family.
Leadership Tips
- Determine the business reason for recognizing work-life balance with your employees. It might be less turn-over with working mothers or the fact that young single workers want to engage in outside volunteer activities.
- Create a work team that gives itself the assignment of maintaining or improving productivity while increasing workplace flexibility. Create metrics that track the various solutions.
- Listen to your employees when they come to you with requests for more flexible work schedules and help them brainstorm alternative solutions.
- Make yourself a model by taking vacations and turning off your PDA. Talk about the importance of your family and how work-life balance has made you a better leader.