***Finding Balance in an Unbalanced World

Effective leaders understand that enhancing relationships is critical to their success. Imagine this for a moment. Your life is a smooth-running machine. You have plenty of time to do all of the important things: eat breakfast, take the kids to school, arrive at work on time, prepare for your meetings, enjoy lunch with a top-performing employee, close a deal with your best client, leave work on time, pick the kids up from school, work out at the gym, make dinner, relax with the kids, spend time with your spouse or significant other, go to bed on time and sleep soundly. We may experience a smooth-running day like the one described above on occasion, but the likelihood that we experience this on a daily basis is slim to none for most of us. So instead of striving for work-life balance, wouldn’t it be better to simply strive to make better work-life choices that we could live with? If you can accept the notion that balance is not a static but rather a dynamic concept, then you may find it possible to find some equilibrium in today’s unbalanced world. Here are a few tactics to help you make better work-life choices on your own terms. Professional Fitness™ • Set clear boundaries. One of my clients works late and accepts calls at home in the evening during the week, but she has made it clear that she does not work on weekends. Weekends are for family. Period. Her staff and vendors honor this and her family appreciates knowing they will have her undivided attention come Saturday and Sunday. This provides a balance between work and family for her. • Be flexible on means. A speaker I heard recently indicated that it is important to her to be involved with her children and to attend their school events. She also has a desire to eat healthfully on a daily basis. One day this might mean eating a homecooked meal with her family before heading to a school event. Another day it might mean eating a health bar and some string cheese in the car on the way. Because she is flexible on the means, she is able to achieve a balance that works for her. • Get comfortable saying no. Sometimes it’s hard to decline a request to attend an event or serve on a committee. Be sure to evaluate every opportunity using your values, goals and definition of success as a filter If something doesn’t fit your screening criteria, say no. This makes it possible to say yes to the things that matter most to you. Sounds simple, right? Maybe, but you’ll be amazed at how challenging adhering to these three simple tactics can be. Remember, finding balance in an unbalanced world is possible. With the right attitude and focus it could even happen for you.