It’s a much talked about subject and ironically the idea for this post came from me worrying about the fact I hadn’t had enough time to write a linked in post yesterday or do some of that other lovely proactive business development stuff because I’ve been too busy.
There will always be times when everything feels like it comes at once and when this happens balancing work and life commitments can be tricky. I know that when this happens, I need to take time to step back, prioritise, delegate, and say no but it’s not always easy and sometimes I need a bit of help.
It’s likely your team feels like this too, and managers have a really important role to play in helping their teams to navigate through this to help them stay at the top of their game, both in and out of work.
So, as a manager, what can you do to help?
Set the tone from the top
The culture of work-life balance starts at the top. Managers need to lead by example. If you’re constantly burning the midnight oil and sending emails at unholy hours, it sends a clear message to the team that this is the norm. Encourage them to take breaks, use their annual leave days, and leave work at work when they log off.
Embrace flexibility
Life happens, and sometimes it collides with work commitments. You can make life easier for your teams by offering flexible work arrangements. Whether it’s remote work, flexible hours, or compressed workweeks, these options can help employees better manage their personal responsibilities while still getting the job done.
Communicate clearly
Providing clear expectations and deadlines for projects means that everyone has a chance to plan their time. If something urgent comes up, communicate it effectively. Avoid last-minute requests whenever possible to give your team a fighting chance to plan their personal lives and manage their commitments.
Offer support, not surveillance
Nobody likes to feel like they’re constantly under the watchful eye of Big Brother. Trusting your team to get their work done and offering support when needed will build healthier relationships and mean that people are more likely to ask for help. Micromanagement can lead to burnout and resentment.
Check in regularly
Show an active interest in your team members by holding regular one-on-one meetings to discuss their workloads, challenges, and goals. This provides an opportunity for employees to voice concerns and for you to offer advice, support and guidance.
As a manager you have a powerful role to play in helping your teams to manage their work-life balance and maintain their wellbeing. By setting a positive example, offering flexibility, providing clear communication and support to your teams you can make the difference that matters. Above all remember to lead with empathy – life throws curveballs at all of us, it’s how we manage them that matters!