In this time of job uncertainty and doing more with less, there is once again a lot of chatter about work-life balance. What does it mean and how can we achieve it? Let’s explore!
Balance is simply the sense that all of the parts of your life (work, home, finance, health) form a harmonious whole. Unfortunately, when things get overwhelming, folks lose their balance, and life… and work … becomes very unmanageable, stressful and unproductive.
As an employer, there are many things that you and your organization can do to enhance employee balance — and the benefits are undeniable. Likewise, employees can make changes in their day-to-day activity to make the most of their time at work, so that they too can experience a more complete and fulfilling existence.
EMPLOYERS:
The Dick Van Dyke Show. Leave it to Beaver. Father knows Best. These classic 1960s sit-coms all have something in common. They portrayed the typical family dynamic of the times: the dad worked a 9-5 workday and came home to a family dinner table, where the well-coifed, stay-at-home mom served a hot meal while the children shared the tales of their days.
In dramatic contrast, today’s typical family household has two working parents. In fact, women now hold half of all jobs in this country. Considering this massive shift in the workforce, it’s unbelievable that so many businesses are resistant to addressing the needs of this changing dynamic. Recent research suggests that less than half of companies “say” they offer flextime and about one-third allow part-time telecommuting.
Flextime, telecommuting and even job sharing are not right for every employee or every job, but those firms that have relaxed their grip on the traditional work schedule are recognizing some benefits.
• Improved retention rate: The flexibility is an incentive for employees to stay with the company.
• Reduced overhead: Less office space may be needed
• Improved overall health of employees due to reduced stress
• Decreased absenteeism: Better productivity from employees who can’t come to work.
• Higher productivity: Although many workers still get “brownie points” for staying late in the office, research shows they are no more productive than those given freedom and flexibility. Flex work forces show their appreciation by working smart for their progressive company.
On a larger scale, these changes in the workforce also enhance the conservation of energy and preservation of environment. Plus they help promote highway safety.
Unfortunately, recent research shows that employees are not experiencing the flexibility that many companies “reportedly” offer. While a firm may suggest these flexible options at the time of hire, the terms may not be agreeable to an immediate supervisor. What’s more, with the shrinking of the workforce, some employers have taken away flex benefits to allow for more “face time”. This short-sided attitude simply doesn’t make sense! With all of high-tech tools at their disposal — smart phones, online meetings, file sharing — employees can be more accessible and productive than ever. Dedicated, motivated workers leaving the office at 5pm (to attend to personal obligations such as picking up from child care) should not be penalized if they’re getting their job done!
In fact, these days many employers are frowning upon employees who TAKE the vacation time they’ve earned or, even worse, questioning employees who choose to stay home when they are sick! Why all the distrust? This is the opposite of working smarter … this is management at its worst; immature and counter-productive!
Families with children are not the only workers who are struggling with balance issues. There’s a whole new force of workers who value their flexibility just as much as working parents. The under-30 crowd has grown up with mobile technology and they are used to being productive — on their laptops, mobile phones and iPads — wherever, whenever. Many complain of the lack of innovation in the stagnant 9-5 world of cubicles and lunch hours.
There have been times throughout our history when our work force experienced fundamental changes in the way work was done. (Remember that thing called the Industrial Revolution?) In our opinion, the Work/lLife Revolution is long overdue!
EMPLOYEES:
Assuming that you are like most, your firm does NOT offer the flexible work options discussed above. In fact, if you are like many Americans, your firm is reducing its work forces, leaving you to work harder, longer hours, giving you more responsibility and perhaps paying you less for the effort.
If you are facing less time for the things you love and more responsibility at work, than it’s time to regain your balance. It’s absolutely essential for your well-being and productivity. Here, we share a round-up of advice and tips — provided by friends and associates — for working smarter, not harder. Here they are:
Have a routine: “Every day, as soon as I get to my desk, I look over my calendar, go over my notes from the previous day and think hard about what I’d most like to accomplish. I prioritize everything numerically, Then, I realistically plot out my entire day, literally hour by hour. Whatever I can’t get to that day, I jot down for the next day, when I will go over my notes again and re-prioritize. “
Get organized: “Spend some time thinking about the biggest stumbling blocks in your office. Do you constantly run out of ink? Than keep a stock-pile of ink. Are you misplacing important notes? Resolve to write everything in one notebook and carry it with you at all times. Drowning in paper? Take a moment every day to throw out unneeded mail, brochures and catalogs. “
Set long term goals: “First, you must be sure of your specific goal, be certain it is achievable. If it is, then you must go about making the process tolerable. Do this by setting short term, achievable goals and find a way of rewarding yourself when you achieve them. No matter how you mark these milestones, you will get a boost of enthusiasm to continue. Accept that setbacks are a normal part of life and focus on getting out of the weeds and continuing on your way to progress.”
Self impose accountability: “If you have a high priority project that you are procrastinating with, set a realistic deadline date and then make it public. Once you put it out there for the world to see, you will be driven to stay on course and complete it.”
Delegate: “Are there people or services that can help you stay focused, motivated and productive? Your assistant can handle things like data entry. The local pharmacy probably has a delivery service that can help you cut back on your “coffee breaks”. Think outside the box!”
Manage time through batching: “Batching is a cool time management system that helps to maximize concentration and reduce distraction. It increases your productivity, creativity, and focus, while decreasing the stress that comes from procrastinating. By simply grouping similar tasks — checking email,phone and snail mail, for instance — you can streamline your workflow. “ The Pomodoro Technique is one method for batching tasks. For complete info, visit http://www.pomodorotechnique.com
Embrace team work: “To work smart it is essential that you understand the functions of those people/departments around you. Chances are, there is someone else in your firm who is doing similar work and by sharing ideas and information, the effort can become much less taxing.”
Use technology: “Virtual meetings, file sharing, voice recognition software are just a few of the thousands of advancements that smart business people are embracing. Take advantage of the amazing age we live in … Plug in and your productivity will soar.”
Thanks to all who offered their helpful tips in this blog. We’d love to hear from our readers on this subject. Employers: What is your firm doing to enhance balance and productivity? Employees: How do you “Work Smarter”? Please feel free to comment below!