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Last month’s article about holidays prompted some good
feedback. So to build on this topic of work/life balance, I would
like to focus attention on the 52 weeks in each year, not just
the 1 to 5 weeks’ holiday we may or may not enjoy.
Surveys regularly report on the somewhat depressing lot of UK
owner/managers. Two recent examples I’ve seen – one
from BDO Stoy Hayward showing the average owner/manager of small/medium
firms works 54 hours per week and 3/4 of respondents said their
firm had taken over their lives. Bank of Scotland reported that
60% of owner/managers put their business needs before their family,
1/3 admitting this happened very often.
Many of us may work late into the night or over weekends and
there is nothing wrong in this per se, but do we do it out of choice
or out of perceived necessity? Some will comment that they are
early birds and others that they work best late at night. Others
will say the only time they can get any useful work done is when
no-one else is in the office.
Whatever your “preferred” hours, are they sustainable
and what do you really want? Do you have plans for the weekend,
but when they come around no energy/time for them? Or worse still
no energy to plan for an enjoyable weekend? Do you let friends
and family down by not being able to keep to your promises? What
are you missing out on?
The vast majority of successful businesses have a strategy and
goals. If you want your personal life also to be successful and
rewarding, you need a strategy and goals for that too.
Some thoughts:-
Decide that your life and family are more important than the
business. It is always possible to earn back lost money, but it’s
impossible to earn back lost time.
Design, with your family or coach, the life you want. What do
you want to do, where do you want to go and how often? How much
more time do you want for your hobbies? How much more time would
you like to spend with your partner, children or grandchildren?
Rid yourself of guilty thoughts that force you to work the longest
hours, or concerns about what your employees might say if you ease
off a little. You’ve already earned your spurs.
Decide not to work say after 6pm , except in exceptional circumstances.
If this seems too difficult, commit to doing this two days a week
at first. Commit to having a lunch break, a minimum of 15 minutes,
but better still relax for longer – read a novel, get some
fresh air or do some exercise.
We tend to believe a happy employee is a good worker – both
more creative and productive. The same is true for bosses.
What’s your strategy for work, rest and play?
If you would like to find out more about coaching/mentoring
and whether it’s right for you, call 0845 658 0940
or e-mail consultation@coachforsuccess.biz to
arrange a no obligation, 30 minute consultation call.
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