How Work-Life Balance Is Pivotal To Your Success

Corporate life can be very demanding and to be really successful you may need to make some sacrifices. But, does it mean there cannot be any balance in the life of a so-called corporate warrior?

I have come across many successful executives who work under so much pressure that over time you see them as totally one dimensional.  So much so that their entire life is all about work and more work. Travelling at the drop of a hat, going endlessly from one meeting to another, checking mails constantly and being in a state of agitation is not known to either increase your productivity or contribute to your well being, significantly.

It is no coincidence that in recent times, several large companies such as Google, Facebook and Intel, have instituted programs for mindfulness and meditation for their employees to improve their work life quality and productivity.

So, How Balanced Is Your Life? You could Answer These Questions To Find Out!

1. You have a passion outside of work and manage to spend some quality time on it, regularly
2. You manage to spend some quality time with your loved ones on a regular basis
3. You don't have major health related problems that are linked to stress in your life
4. On a daily basis you experience moments when you are at peace with yourself and happy with your life
5. You feel positive about your life and look forward to each new day
6. Moments of conflict in your life are balanced by a lot of harmony in your professional and personal life
7. You are rested most of the time and not craving for rest
8. You know where your life is headed and are happy with the way it is going
9. You feel you are making a difference to other people’s lives and not just living for yourself
10. You have meaningful relationships in your life and are able to give them the time and attention they deserve
11. You are happy with the results that you are getting in your professional life and feel your services are valued by your organization
12. If you had a chance to change your life, you would not want to make any major change

If your answer is ‘No’ to any of the questions above, you need to take a close look at your life and explore ways to restore the balance in your life, preferably, before it is too late.

So, Why Is Having A Balance In Your Life So Important And What Can You Do About It?

1.  Serious Imbalance Can Have Disastrous Consequences

It was a Friday evening and I was in a meeting in my office when one of my colleagues peeped into my cabin and waved to me. Not wanting to interrupt the meeting, I waved back and continued with the meeting. Little did I realize, that this was the last time I would ever see my colleague.

My colleague had been based out of Australia for the past year and had returned to Delhi about ten days ago. His family was based out of a city in Madhya Pradesh, a state in central India. He had been away from his family for quite a while and wanted to go back, desperately. When he returned to Delhi there was a major proposal underway and he had been asked to complete it before going back home finally. So, over the last ten days he had been working literally round the clock on the proposal, clocking barely 3 to 4 hours of sleep a day.

That evening, he took a flight back to his city. He hadn't seen his family in a while. So, on reaching home, despite the fatigue from lack of sleep and incessant work, he sat with his wife, chatting with her, trying to make up for lost time. At around midnight, he felt thirsty and his wife got up to fetch a glass of water.

When she returned a few minutes later, he had suffered a massive cardiac arrest. All efforts to revive him, failed and he passed away right there with his head cradled in his wife's lap. Barely in his early forties, with no history of any chronic illness, he is survived by a wife and a young daughter.

The point is, when the balance in your life goes, there can be dangerous consequences. And, sometime, it is the family and loved ones, who end up paying the price.

2.  Is There Really No Other Option?

It was a cold January night in Delhi. I had joined IBM recently and was working on a rather large bid.   We were way behind schedule and pushing to meet the deadline for submission of the bid. In the whirlwind of activity, I had kind of lost track of time. Just then my phone rang. I glanced at my watch- it was 230 am and reached for my phone.

At the other end, was my daughter. She was preparing for her medical entrance exam and it was customary for her to be up late, studying. She asked me "Where are you dad?" I responded, "I am in my office." She said "What are you doing there?" I launched into the story of my bid and how it needed to be completed.

She interjected and asked me "Do you know what time it is?" I said, "Sure I do." Then she asked her next question "When do you plan to come home?" I told her I wasn't sure.

When she heard that, there was silence on the phone.

A short while later she said- "Dad I hope you realize, no matter how hard you race in a rat race, you will still remain a rat." With that, frustrated, she disconnected the phone.

I sat in the stillness of the night thinking about what my daughter had just told me and realized that I had got carried away by the urgency of my work. I shut down my laptop, got into my car and drove home right away.

Quite often, we create our own version of the truth and with that we create pressures that throw our lives completely out of sync. Sometime, all it takes is to stop and think realistically, without getting carried away!  When you do that you will find that a lot of stress that you experience, is a product of your own creation.  De-stressing your life can give a serious impetus to your career and enable you to scale new heights of success!

3.  Being Very Successful At Work, With Your Personal Life In Shambles Or Vice-Versa, Is Called Anything, But Success

Some people measure success in a one-dimensional manner- professional success. Let's say a person is moving from strength to strength in his career, but, has no relationship with any loved one, worth the name. Would you consider that person to be very successful? Or, if this same person who is very successful at work, has his health in shambles.   Would you still consider the person an epitome of success? Possibly not!

Defining what success really means to you could be your first step towards happiness and finding that elusive balance in your life.  It is one of the fundamental requirements for sustainable success in your career.  

4.  Would You Park A Ferrari And Never Use It In A Bid To Keep It New?

A Ferrari is a high performance car. Imagine, you have a Ferrari and want to ensure it stays new, in mint condition, for as long as possible. So, you park the car in your garage and just never use it. Do you think that will keep this car in pristine condition? The answer is ‘no’. To be in the best condition, the car needs to run.

The human body is no different. You need to use it, make it work for it to stay in perfect condition. But, that sometimes is easier said than done. A lot of my young colleagues, barely in their early thirties, prefer to use the elevator to come down two flights of stairs. With little or no physical activity, very soon the body gets into a state of total disarray and starts manifesting a number of health related problems. If you add to this the ever-present stress in corporate lives, poor eating habits and reduced sleep, it is a recipe for pure disaster.

Very early in my career I realized the importance of good health and started working out on a regular basis. I also realized that if I waited until the end of the day to get some exercise, chances are that I would never get any. So, I made it a point to hit the gym by 630 am in the morning and work out for at-least an hour for a minimum of five days a week.

Getting exercise in any form that appeals to you, is paramount for your health and well being. It is also a proven stress-buster.  You will find your productivity at work increasing and your career on a growth trajectory. 

5.  Don't Just Work Hard, Work Smart

For many people, success is synonymous with hard work. While there is no substitute for hard work, there is no assurance that hard work alone, will lead to success. In fact, it may well be, the other way around. Think about it- if you are working in an area that you enjoy, have planned your work meticulously, delegated adequately, would you still need to slog to complete your work? In all probability, the answer would be 'no'.

Very often, what we call as hard work is the result of poor planning, inadequate delegation, lack of time management and a tendency to do too many things on your own. And, that certainly, does not lead to success!

Some of the finest leaders that I have worked with were never pressed for time. On the contrary, they had all the time in the world, for things that they considered important. Did this come naturally to them? The answer is ‘no’. They, consciously cultivated this mindset until over time, it became a habit.  Managing your career calls for smartness as much as it does for hard work. 

If you find yourself always pressed for time, running helter-skelter trying to complete your work, then step away and take a dispassionate look at what you are trying to do. There is a possibility, you are overloaded, need help or are trying to do too many things by yourself that are best done by others.

6.  Ask For Help

Research has it that men seldom ask for directions when they are driving, even if they are lost and have no GPS device to rely on.  But, this can be counter productive.  

If you are faced with a situation at work where you feel overwhelmed by what you have to do, then sit back and take a fresh look at your situation.  You may need help. If you do, then don't hesitate to reach out to people who could help you.    

Remember- today is the first day of the rest of your life!  So make the most of it.  If not for yourself, do it for your family!  After all balance, is critical to having a long and successful career.

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What is your view of balance in your life?  It would be interesting to know and could be of value to other people as well. 

About the Author: Srinivasan is an independent consultant working in the area of strategy and technology interventions in the public sector domain. He has worked in companies like IBM and TCS and has over 30 years of experience spanning 24 countries.

Some of the author's other posts-

How To Leverage-The Power Of Persuasion

Leverage Your Listening Skills To Lead!

The Power Of Purpose

Is Something Holding You Back?

7 Keys To Power Your Career 

6 Keys To Success- In A Career In IT

Back To The Future- Strategy For Career Growth

Are You A Skilled Negotiator?

The Art Of Making A Brilliant Presentation

Image courtesy-Flickr

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