As I write this month’s introductory note there is much disagreement amongst the habitants on the North American continent. The re-opening of NAFTA; the ever increasing limitations placed on people and goods moving between nations; and global warming – is it fact or fiction? The one thing we all agree about is the challenge of finding the illusive state of balance in our work and life.
“The one thing we all agree about is the difficulty in finding the illusive work-life balance.”
Many of my clients (and full disclosure, myself at times) struggle to find a balance between the two points on the continuum of living in the 21st century. In searching for this illusive place we encounter two important things:
- Work – Life balance is in a constant, fluid state. Seldom do we locate and sustain ourselves in perfect symmetry; and
- We have different needs and therefore different solutions to help us shift the pendulum away from working all the time or meeting the demands of the dual role of balancing work with children, elderly parents or siblings.
I am especially pleased to see the first two findings from the author’s research spotlighting two critical features of personal leadership success.
Firstly, we can all find balance by leaning into our personal strengths. All too often we are painfully aware of what we do not excel at and misplace or hide our strengths. Think about when you are at your best. Take confidence in and intentionally apply your strengths whenever and wherever you can.
And secondly, have a solid target of what the best possible or compelling vision looks like, for you. Maybe it’s accepting that you cannot be at every one of your child’s events. Making sure you are home to read to a youngster before bedtime or there to pick up your teenager after a social event will give you the true sense of doing what is important in your life.
Executing a short-term / longer-term mindset will give you the resilience and a healthy perspective in navigating the toughest challenges of time along your working parenthood journey.
Recommended Reading:
- Harvard Business Review – “Balancing Parenting and Work Stress: A Guide”
- StrengthsFinder 2.0 or Strengths-Based Leadership