Time - Work - Balance

I recently came across a very good article in Linked In.com. Thought would express my thoughts about the same

Time for You

It is very important to give time for yourself every day, for your fitness, for your mental peace and for your family for your growth and all these in turn lead to be more energetic and prepare you to be more efficient the next day. Example: More energy can actually make you crack the deal with the client in an important meeting than , slogging for the last day will block your thoughts also for the same meeting. It is immaterial whether you are a forced bachelor or a bachelor.

It is ideal also to ensure your team also doesn't slog to get a work life balance - when i say that it should be work 100% and life 100%. Ambitious and Overambitious would set you apart from what you want to make out of your work. We all have WBS, effort estimates, timeline charts, project plans etc. It is very vital to follow them religiously and alter them as per the environment conditions and keep realistic figures in front of the client time to time. For example if a developer has to design a feature in 15 MD time, and he ends up completing in 13 MD, we usually ask him to continue working and not give him a break which is illogical and as i have said overambitious.

At the same time if he/she is not able complete the feature in 15 MD time, the feedback loop on the changed timelines/delayed timelines must be alive with all stakeholders instead of taxing him/her on the weekends/weekdays

Prioritization the Key

It is very important to fix yourself a time when you can work and when you should not and also disseminate the same kind of environment around you in turn making everyone effective

Sometimes one gets caught up with mutiple things on hand and in a move to acclerate everything we often end up in moving anything and end up disappointed with nothing moving. In this case it is very vital to prioritize and take one at a time and come what may , do not divert attention to other. This always worked for me in addressing in better way

Change in Perception

In a world where , the recognition of an employee's performance is based on the number of hours he/she has stretched at office or the number of nights spent at office looking at the man-made 14 inch machine, it requires a sea change in perception for a better and quality life.

An agreement should be made between the employee and employer to fix the working time in a week to cap of 40-45 hrs after which there is a penalty to work more. this would not only get a discipline in the working environment but also it would make the employee more efficient and productive in his working hours. I dont think this is new as few a friend of mine from Germany said that one day when he worked 10 minutes more after the closing time of the office, next day it was escalated and he was counselled and warned not to repeat it without prior permission from many of his higher ups. Too good isn't it.

Above changes accompanied with correct traits of a leaders would not only make individuals better and productive and also makes your organization the best among others.

Denmark....Spain...Netherlands rank among the best places where you have a great work life balance....Very soon it is going to infect other countries....