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Let’s Change the Work/Life Balance Conversation
The Old Conversation
The traditional conversation about balancing work and life is like squeezing a balloon. Regardless of what end you put pressure on, you are always worried the other end is going to pop. To make it worse, the “life” piece has multiple dimensions within itself that are difficult to balance – immediate family, extended family, spiritual, service, social, etc… Oh, and let’s not forget self!
One issue with the work/life balance conversation is the word ‘balance’. By its very nature, it implies that we need to sacrifice on one end to gain on the other. It also implies that we can neatly fit work and life into two separate and discrete buckets. While that may be our desire, it typically is not reality.
We won’t make any progress if we continue to talk about this important issue using an antiquated work/life balance framework. In fact, we’ll do just the opposite. We’re setting ourselves up to automatically feel inadequate because of what we aren’t getting done.
A New Conversation!
Finally, a conversation has emerged that presents a new view that actually gives us a fighting chance to feel good about ourselves. Out with work/life balance and in with work/life integration. Let’s figure out how to make it all work together versus setting the stage for a competition.
What Changes with the New Conversation?
- We give up the “or” driven mentality that requires trade-offs and adopt the “and” driven mentality of abundance.
- We optimize our lives instead of sub-optimizing the different parts.
- We deal with fluctuating demands over time.
- We focus on output and results versus completing tasks.
Our approach becomes conceptually aligned with how we really work – checking emails in the evenings, finishing that project on the weekend, attending that mid-afternoon baseball game, buying tickets when the box-office opens at 11:00 on Wednesday. And that’s all ok. We trade guilt for gratitude.
How to Make It Happen
It takes effort on the part of employers and employees. The employer needs to make work/life integration OK, formally and informally. That means revised policies, new programs, and possibly a cultural shift. Employees need to allow themselves the flexibility to revamp how they work and respond by increasing performance and adding more value.
The Benefit to Your Organization
At a time when most of us are expected to do more with less, allowing work/life flexibility can seem counter-intuitive. Admittedly, there is a “leap of faith” aspect related to the payback with which you need to get comfortable. But you have more to gain by promoting work/life integration. The payback is higher profits, reduced medical costs, increased employee retention, and a rise in employee engagement.
How much does your culture rely on balance versus integration? How much more could be achieved by changing the conversation and the culture?