Intruequest Idea Exchange

Thursday, May 7, 2009

BALANCE

Some recent events have caused me to want to get signed contracts from my clients promising that they will take better care of themselves. With the current economic challenges, the stress level is obviously off of the charts these days. I propose that even if leaders are not aware of experiencing more stress themselves, they are absorbing a high level of stress simply from the air they are breathing. I certainly am. Yet, I also realize that many of us, at least in the United States, have little skill in taking care of ourselves – a healthy diet and some exercise and some sleep are about the only menu items that we know to pull from, and in limited portions that in no way compare to the typical work week (and I put parenting and family/household responsibilities inside of the “work week” category. Can we even fathom what real balance would look like? And even if we could, how many of us have the guts to create it for ourselves?

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3 Comments:

Blogger Intruequest Idea Exchange said...

Time is a limited resource. Energy can be renewable -- unlike time. I like the article in HBR, Manage Your Time, Not Your Energy by Tony Schwartz and Catherine McCarthy. The authors give lots of great pointers on how leaders need to renew themselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually -- and do this throughout the day so that not only to they have more to give their companies, they have more to give their families at the end of the day. Let’s be frank -- leadership requires that you can take lots of blows. If you aren’t strong across a range of dimensions (i.e., physically, emotionally, etc.) you will be blown off course, especially given today’s turbulent environment. Working harder and longer isn’t the answer. Working smarter could be the answer if that includes rituals that restore vitality and if we work smarter in the ways that we engage with others which generate energy rather than depletes it. What rituals or practices do you use to stay in balance?

May 7, 2009 at 10:25 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I totally agree that time is a limited resource and creating balance is a discipline that all good leaders must have. I haven't read the article that is highlighted, but some of the items that I have in place to create a balance for me are - dedicated family time, monthly get togethers with a circle of close friends and peers, spontaneous happy hours with my team, and monthly me time. These all help me keep focused while at work and afford me opportunities to recharage myself.

May 12, 2009 at 3:16 PM  
Anonymous Joe said...

How do I stay in balance? My balance comes from a daily, explicit recognition of my "abundance" - what makes me happy and overflows my sense of life. By acknowledging my abundance, I acknowledge what is important to me, what I have, and what I must maintain. By doing so daily, I am able to see where balance is out of skilter and adjust quickly.

May 13, 2009 at 9:02 PM  

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