I asked John McFarlane, then CEO of ANZ Bank, whether to create an enabling environment that supports work/life balance it is necessary for an organisational leader to model this balance. His response was inspirational.
He advises firstly to “get a full life and then have success at work”. One of his key strategies is to follow a personal mission statement. This statement sets out the roles and pursuits on which he focuses all of his attention, avoiding “with good grace activities that are inconsistent, however appealing”. He also takes very practical steps to ensure his time is managed well such as only having meetings in the mornings and if people are “high maintenance” he sends them away.
McFarlane’s personal mission statement includes:
leaving a legacy through making a unique and tangible contribution to the world;
being an effective CEO and contributing to banking globally;
leading, managing and creating a high-performance culture with high energy, integrity, enlightened values, and controlled professional execution;
living a full, fun, balanced and fulfilled life. Being positive and warm-hearted, healthy, mentally and physically fit, secure, and at peace spiritually;
being a loving caring, loyal, and fun partner, father, brother, family member and friend, and making a substantial contribution to their security and future.
Through living his life in this way John McFarlane not only leads a very successful organisation and satisfying life but shows the way forward for other leaders, managers and workplaces.
To create sustainable flexible workplaces managers must lead by example. Unfortunately all too often what we find in our organisations are “mega-managers”. They are the people, who because of the long hours spent at work, have highly developed roles as managers at the expense of other life roles.
When these “mega-managers” return home late at night, usually tired and stressed, the only role accessible to them is that of manager. And no partner, child or friend wants to be managed! What those at home want is a loving husband, father or other compatible life role. These roles can only develop by spending time in them. The loss of relationships and family breakdown in our society due to the long hours working cultures is a devastating testament to this reality.
How to develop truly effective roles at work and in our personal lives is the focus of our upcoming Play of Life workshop on
on 21 & 22 August 2008 in Sydney. This program supports personal, constructive behaviour change enabling managers to live their lives and lead their teams in a way that will bring a better balance and greater life satisfaction.
Lots more tips and strategies are available in Kerry’s book “Time On, Time Out! Flexible Work Solutions to Keep Your Life in Balance”. Hard copies have sold out but this 300 page book is now available as an e-book for only $27.00. To order your copy click here
"Time On, Time Out! Outlines strategies to minimise competing commitments using case studies of real people, with real babies and real jobs. It proposes solutions that reflect the broad range of experience and consultation the authors bring to their research, as well as optimism and enthusiasm for achieving a balance between work and life." New Workplace Magazine Further reviews at www.flexibility.com.au
Our personal life coaching sessions can give you the breakthroughs, insights, motivation and strategies you need to achieve the life you want.
Contact Kerry Fallon Horgan on Tel: (02) 9402 4741 or email kerry@flexibility.com.au for your first coaching session, which includes a free copy of the 55 minute MP3 audio program “Flexibility At Work: The Opportunities & Challenges”.
Sign up for our free work life balance news, and receive a 30% discount on the book "Time On, Time Out!" until 30 April 2008
