Perspectives on balance

Work-Life balance can be achieved in many ways. The chief operating officer of one of our long-standing clients feels there is no such thing as balance when it comes to work and his personal life. It is instead about work-life integration. For him, balance is figuring out how to keep all the balls in the air because there he doesn’t feel he can separate the two very often. He’s right. 

Recently Barbara Corcoran, mother and investor in the popular “Shark Tank” television show featuring inventors and entrepreneurs, shared in a USA Today story that instead of balance, work and life should be focused on separately; completely free of distractions from each other. Focusing 100% of her attention on one area of her life at a time works best for her, Corcoran shared; especially after having children. She’s right, too. 

We find through our work within Balance Concierge’s scope of services, that balance is different for everyone. Work-life balance is achieved through whatever method and means works best for each unique individual’s personality, resources, and responsibilities. The two examples above are on the extreme opposite ends of the spectrum, and they are both exactly what is needed to achieve healthy, effective and efficient work-life balance for these two people. Many others fall somewhere in between depending on their situation, time of year, and season of career.

So, work-life balance can be defined as work-life integration and separation. Is it also equal time, productivity, achievement, enjoyment, purpose, and overall well-being? No. Those elements of life are definitely different for everyone and not fair to equate, which is why a scale is an inaccurate way to envision work-life balance. There is no equality between the two.

In all cases, however, we can say with certainty, that work-life balance is achieved with a team of people. As human beings, we are not designed to survive in isolation. This seems evident in our history of family structures, tribal behavior, group dynamics, and natural tendency to congregate.

Finding balance is not always easy. Many people struggle with the challenge. Consider some of the perspectives and thoughts on the topic shared by the following successful women:

"Framing the issue of work-life balance - as if the two were dramatically opposed - practically ensures work will lose out. Who would ever choose work over life?"     - Sheryl Sandberg

"Balance is not better time management, but better boundary management. Balance means making choices and enjoying those choices." - Betsy Jacobson

"The work-life balance is a harsh reality for so many women, who are forced every day to make impossible choices. Do they take their kids to the doctor...and risk getting fired? Do they work weekends so they can afford to send their kids to better childcare...even though it means even less time with their families? Do they take another shift at work, so they can pay for piano lessons for their kids...even though it means they have to stop volunteering for the PTA? It just shouldn't be this difficult to raise healthy families."  - Michelle Obama

"To have someone who never makes a mistake, never finds her personal life in disarray, never worries about work-life balance? I think that would be unreal." - Sophie Kinsella

"When I think about work-life balance, I don't imagine it as a perfect day where I got to spend the exact right amount of time having an impact at work and snuggling with my kids at home. I never achieve that. But over the course of a month, or a quarter, or a year, I try to make time for the people and experiences I value."  - Jane Park

"I've learned that you can't have everything and do everything at the same time."  - Oprah Winfrey

There are some people who are superheroes with few family members and friends to lean on and many more responsibilities than one person should have to handle. The reality is they, too, can only maintain their level of energy so long. To maximize our potential, we need a work team, a life team, and a work-life team of people can help us accomplish everything that needs to be done on our daily to-do lists. Other people help us – in small and big ways – and give us the freedom to fulfill our goals in all areas of life. 

Balance Concierge’s service is one team of people who can help your workplace team achieve greater balance in work, life and well-being. Contact us today to learn how!