Recently I had the opportunity to be a panel participant with other Thought Leaders in my industry. It was a lot of fun and hopefully, I was able to impart a margin of wisdom to those participating. There was a bit of a common theme to the questions and since these questions were posed to me, I thought I would pose both the questions and my answers to all of you.
Today’s Thought Partner Friday is Q & A with Me! See what you think of my three As.
Q. As the boundaries between work and personal life continue to blur, the concept of work-life balance is undergoing a transformation. How do you envision the evolution of work-life balance, and what is one strategy or practice individuals and organizations can adopt to ensure that work-life integration enhances overall well-being and performance, rather than leading to an identity crisis?
A. Working from home and living at home often means we’re simultaneously doing both, in the same space, at the same time, all of the time. The delineation between work and life has inadvertently become nonexistent. The ability to be present when “not working“ is paramount to creating and sustaining fulfillment in our personal and professional lives. Hypervigilance to single-tasking must be a priority. We’re quite clever at deluding ourselves into thinking we can multitask – spending time with our family and friends while also responding to email and Slack messages. We fool no one, least of all ourselves, and we’re unsuccessful in both endeavors. The myth that successful multitasking exists must be debunked. When in your next meeting, minimize your second screen, put your phone on the other side of the desk, and turn your camera on to create a “forced presence” with those in your presence. When enjoying friends, families, and hobbies, treat your devices like a hot stove – don’t touch them.
Q. From your perspective, what is one strategy or approach you have found most effective in fostering teamwork, trust, and collaboration among diverse individuals? Could you share a real-life example where your recommended strategy led to the formation of a high-performing team, highlighting the specific actions and outcomes that emerged?
A. Much like harnessing the power of Emotional Intelligence propels a successful leader forward, employing the principles of Team Emotional Intelligence promotes teamwork, collaboration, visibility, and trust for high-performing teams. Having conducted numerous Team Emotional Intelligence workshops with clients, the results are irrefutable – when teams learn how to become Emotionally Aware, Manage their Emotions, identify, nurture, and Manage their existing Internal Relationships, and maximize their External Relationships they perform at a higher level, both as an insular unit and as a cohesive team within the overall organization’s ecosystem. Learning and practicing the principles of Team EQ is the critical differentiator for next-level team performance. Leaving emotional awareness and management “at the door” is detrimental in today’s work environment. Driving Team EQ initiatives is the key to unlocking teamwork, trust, and collaboration in future-proofed teams.
Q. How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance while also achieving your professional goals? Give your best strategy/tip that others can follow to achieve similar success.
A. Can we agree to substitute the phrase “healthy work-life balance” in favor of “healthy work-life relationship”? Our lives are constantly in flux and are rarely ever in “balance”. Think about it – the holidays come and our calendars become crowded and chaotic, if you have children, then you’re shuttling between different sporting seasons that begin and end, and work too becomes more hectic during times of deadlines, etc… Life is rarely in balance. Therefore, the key is not to seek balance but to seek a healthy relationship, one that gives TO you as much as you give TO it. As with any relationship, if you constantly pour more into it, without receiving much from it, it’s draining, unfulfilling, and will not be one you’re eager to nurture. It’s great to give, but you must also receive as well. If those two measures become disproportionate you need to reevaluate your relationship, as you would in any relationship.
Feel free to send me a Q and I’ll respond with an A!
Hope you enjoyed this mini-mentor session!
