Gratitude for some great lessons

Life and parenthood don’t come with a user’s manual. There are no instructions, no map, and most of us go through it one day at a time, just making it up as we go along. This was the inspiration behind The Work-Life Equation podcast: we wanted to share candid, insightful and completely relatable stories for everyone putting the pieces together to make life work, hoping to leave them inspired and understood. My co-host Paul Sullivan and I wanted to hold your hands as you navigate work, life and all the chaos in between.

We just wrapped up another season of the podcast. Reflecting on the season, I think it’s amazing how 14 diverse interactions with 14 completely different powerhouse personalities have so many common threads. If you’re new to the podcast, or have only listened to a few episodes, let me fill you in on the key takeaways:

1. Power of role-modeling

For leaders looking to replace workplace culture, role-modeling is your most powerful tool. Most often, a family-friendly environment is created by evidently showcasing family-first attitudes, giving your teams permission to do the same. Donald Knight II, a seasoned HR leader and father, spoke about his heightened responsibility to set the bar higher while showing up for his family. I’ve been a big proponent of the philosophy of ‘designing work around life’, backed by the idea that we are more than just employees who come into work to mechanically produce results. To reinforce this, guests like Dana Suskind ?discussed the importance of involving employers and policymakers to view employees as ‘whole individuals’–with families, commitments and aspirations.

We were able to delve into role-modeling outside of the work realm, too. Through the eyes of author Jessica Fein, we understood how as a society, we can role-model being present for our loved ones, neighbors and friends, especially at a time of grief.

2. Fathers pivotal to transforming the future world of work for women ?

This topic is close to my heart, and I am glad we partnered with my co-host Paul Sullivan to create such a reservoir of content for dads or dads-to-be, to serve as a guide. I couldn’t have said it better than Mita Mallick ?(Chief Diversity Officer, Carta) – “The future and the world of work for women cannot change without men”. I agree that it is impossible to shift the conversation and culture in a company without taking into consideration fathers and men being caregivers. Why, you ask? For one, the support and allyship of men is crucial for women – at home, at work, and in society—to share the load, to be understood, to shatter systemic power structures, and to build inclusive policies.

Secondly, men embracing fatherhood is simply good for them, and the generations of fathers to follow. Dr. Ramon Jacobs-Shaw (healthcare leader and father) speaks about the importance of breaking the glass ceilings for dads. He asks other fathers to “own it, be proud of it, have fun with it, and let people know that that's important to you”. Role-modeling and story sharing helps normalize the experience of fatherhood and is the first step to equity in care roles.

?

3, Multigenerational workforce – here to stay and for the better

For the first time ever, we have five generations in the workforce with very diverse experiences and aspirations. The good news, however, according to a recent AARP study, is that seven out of ten employees like working with generations other than their own. Intergenerational collaboration could be so beneficial for any organization’s customers, and might I say more fun than we give credit for!

A positive way to look at the difference of various generations is through ‘default behaviors’, as Donald Knight II puts it. Each generation comes with a different set of defaults and when faced with criticism, it is helpful to remember that every generation has historically viewed the previous generation as ‘lazy’ or ‘entitled’. It’s an age-old stereotype that has overstayed it’s welcome. The most crucial thing for employers and employees is to understand these defaults and see how they can be leveraged for success. Potentially, ‘reverse mentoring’ could a great way to keep learning about the different generations, and a simple mantra for employers to remember is ‘inequitable benefits for an equitable workplace’.

4.????? Live life spectacularly

I’d like to wrap-up this masterclass by taking a leaf out of Harvard physician, Dr Aditi Nerurkar's book ‘The 5 Resets’. One of her actionable tips is to: ‘Live a lifetime in a day’. In her eyes, it is the antithesis of hustle culture. It means, spend a few minutes every day in these six elements— childhood, work, vacation, solitude, community, and retirement, and they make up the arc of a long and meaningful life. How does that look? Do things that bring you joy and wonder, like a child; spend some time at work; get outside and feel the fresh air like you would during a vacation, etc. (read her book to know more??)

Importantly, don’t lose sight of your dreams. People ask my husband, Sanjay, and I how we have lived apart—does he miss the boys? Do I feel like I have an unfair burden of raising them? I can tell you this is our closest version to living our respective dreams, having faith in each other, and doing our best for our loved ones and families i.e living our lives spectacularly. There is a different version for each of us – find yours and live it!