Father is My Most Important Job Title

With Father’s Day being this month, it’s an opportunity for me to reflect on my most important title – father. We’re often defined by the title on our LinkedIn profiles, but, we’re all so much more than that title.

When I leave the office, I get to go home to a wonderful wife and, if I’m lucky, I’ll get a text or phone call from the children we raised, who are now busy at college living a life I’m so proud of. This is the good stuff that life is made up of, so work-life balance rises to the top of my priority list each week.

How do I practice work-life balance? By being intentional inside and outside the work place.

When I’m well prepared for the day and week ahead, I’m more efficient, and that creates margin in my schedule to take advantage of.

I am clear with my team about objectives and milestones so that decisions can be made at the appropriate level (i.e. not in my office). I have a clear understanding of my role, and I focus my calendar on things that are connected to it.

Take meetings that optimize your work value – it’s a crazy idea, I know. Is there an agenda set for the meeting? Do you know your role in the meeting? Ask yourself these things before hitting accept on the meeting notice.

Consider that some things can be solved over email instead of meetings, and you don’t always have to travel for a meeting – perhaps holding a video conference is most effective for your time and money.

Work in places that optimize your time at work. At Lockheed Martin, we strive to have a flexible work environment. If there’s a need to be at home for an appointment, it might make more sense to work from home that day, if your schedule allows. When I travel, I take the time on a plane to catch up and do some strategic thinking about the weeks ahead.

Not only is a flexible work environment important, but also consider the time of day you work. I have often gone home for dinner, sporting events, school performances, etc., and then finished the day at the dining room table after the kids were in bed.

I also block time on the calendar for vacation and long weekends with my wife and children. If I don’t schedule those well in advance, the work demands will always fill the available openings.

When I’m not in the office, I want to use this valuable time doing things that refuel me. I enjoy reading, traveling, exercising, volunteering within my church, and occasionally, even taking a nap.

I’d also recommend developing discipline with your devices. Put it in a drawer if you can’t stay off it. If necessary, schedule a time to look at it and respond to urgent matters (most things can wait) if your position requires it.

My family is my greatest source of encouragement and also my greatest responsibility, so I will continue to be intentional in the work place and at home to make both parts of my life work cohesively.

For more tips on work-life balance, check out this article on Lockheed Martin’s views on work-life balance. https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-make-the-case-for-a-more-flexible-work-schedule

How are you intentional about balancing your work and personal life?