Leading in Balance

How was your Monday? As you reflect on the day, I wanted to share with you that I’m really impressed with how one of my clients is leading her organization. She’s the executive director, and she truly believes in balancing work and play. She hops planes to exciting locales for regular R&R, and comes back laughing and ready to attack new challenges.

Recently, I was sitting in her office discussing a project we’re working on, and I asked her about her philosophy on work/life balance. She smiled and said, “I encourage my staff to take regular time off to restore their energy, and make it a point to lead them by example.”

I’ve noticed that her employees stay a long time. They are less stressed than many I see, and are eager to follow her lead to advance the organization’s vision. Unfortunately, this organizational behavior is unusual.

But it doesn’t have to be.

We often forget how much the behavior of the leader influences the team. The choices you make to take care of yourself contribute to how others take care of themselves. There is a saying: at the end of one’s life, nobody says, “I wish I had worked more.”

I know I’ve been guilty of overworking myself at times. But life is now. We can all plan to take better care of ourselves. And your effort will be multiplied as it ripples out to those you work with.

So, I have a challenge for you.

This Week’s Mission:

Consider how you allocate your time to the different parts of your life. Think of one way you can tip the scales towards taking better care of yourself. Can you do so in a way that is visible to those you work with?

Then implement it. This week.

Email me and share your idea. I’d love to hear it.

Warmly,

Ron