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 If like me, you're committed to your work and strive to be successful but equally enjoy life away from the office then you need to strike the right balance between work and life commitments.
Lindy Cozens, executive coach/managing director, Coach House: Self-assessment of work/life balance is useful because it shows managers who want to embark on the journey of striking a balance between work and personal life how they may be able to empathise with employees trying to do the same. Despite the fact that effective management of the balance will take time, commitment and energy, the added value appears to be well worth the investment.
Work/life balance questions to ask yourself:
- Work out what is important
- How well do I clarify my own life goals?
- Do I know where work falls in my list of priorities?
- What trade-offs am I prepared to make to achieve my goals?
- Compartmentalise– negotiate with your ‘publics'
- Do I understand my various life roles – parent, football coach, cricket scorer – in terms of how they overlap and when they must be kept separate? For example, do you check e-mail and voicemail at the weekend?
- Prioritise and let things go
- Do I regularly challenge the way I approach tasks, both at work and at home?
- How do I react when other people suggest new ways to get things done? Am I defensive or intrigued?
- Take a long-term view
- Take a break – gain perspective
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