Thursday, February 15, 2007

Fighting Addiction

A newspaper article last month described how, in an ironic role reversal, many professional working parents, when home, are sneaking their Blackberries (or a similar device) into the closet or the bathroom to check e-mail so their children and spouses don't catch them. These parents are e-mailing while at their kids' school events and at home during "family time" (including dinner.) In shame they take to hiding their dirty "habit."

The Blackberry (also unaffectionate called "CrackBerry" because of its sometimes addictive nature) is a hand-held device that provides 24/7 connection to your job. The Blackberries are the workplace cyber tool of the new millennium which enables you to always be in touch with work e-mail and the Internet. It can be both a blessing and a curse.

It can be intrusive and can eliminate any remaining boundaries of work-life balance, but it doesn't have to be that way. Life is full of choices and any tool can be misused or abused. A shovel is a marvelous invention, but you wouldn't use it to clear snow off your car's windshield -- or at least not very often. Some employees or managers have addictive or obsessive-compulsive personalities and get hooked on things like this.

So, beware of your possible addiction to these tools and know that you've probably gone too far when you take it to bed with you in fear that you might miss something important! Set reasonable limits and boundaries so that it's a tool to help increase your effectiveness not a device that always needs to be on and ruling your life!

Monday, February 12, 2007

Work-Life Initiatives

In analyzing the needs of today and tomorrow's workforce, work-life balance is high on the list of issues facing both employers and employees. It is a critical issue at the forefront for both families and for Corporate America (actually not just Corporate America...it's a global issue!)

Balance is really about being in control and feeling comfortable with your choices not about a juggling act. There are numerous studies I have read. They indicate a direct correlation between strong support of work-life balance practices and positive employee retention, productivity, and customer service ratings. Even so, work-life balance is not simply something a company can do for its individual employees. It also includes what individuals do for themselves in attaining meaningful achievement and enjoyment in everyday life.

However, keep in mind some inherent realities I picked up from a BLOG called "Brother in Arms" that I tend to agree with wholeheartedly:

• Not everything is of equal importance in your life, and perfect balance probably does not mean equality.

• Your life is constantly changing and you constantly need to reallocate your resources.

• Things happen that are out of your control, but it is up to you to respond to these external forces.

• Change in one area probably impacts all others, so be flexible and proactive.

• Recognize and accept that you will probably drop a ball or two now and then.

Explore your corporate and organizational work-life initiatives. When both company and employee efforts are complementary and sincere, true work-life balance can be achieved.