Striking the Work Life “Unbalance” Requires a Shift in Perspective
Two years into remote work, and the struggle to separate work from life for many (myself included) has only deepened. A change in office scene requires a change in mindset, and it starts with leaders setting the tone and leading by example.
I firmly believe we are our best selves professionally when we are our best selves personally. But how do we strike that balance between life and work – especially in an ever-changing, client-centered, often remote environment, when it sometimes just seems easier to lean into the grind?
Perhaps it's as simple as changing your perspective on what you highlight, celebrate and/or reward.
Enter our Earned Media Team’s “Earned It – ME TIME” channel, an informal team chat, where we celebrate those superstars who are intentional about making time for themselves.
We celebrate the toddler mom who takes breaks in the day to volunteer at her kid’s school (during business hours😊); the team member who reminds everyone it’s national “plan your vacation day” (because YES we have unlimited vacation and YES we need to prioritize it); the new mom who doesn't hide mid-day snuggles with her son but rather owns it and posts about it; the rock star who volunteers mid-week at the animal shelter; selfies of bicoastal “walk and talks” because who needs another Zoom 1:1 when you can get up and move; images representing how people spent their time off (fully unplugged) because they have a team supporting them – from skydiving, to hiking to dim sum!
These are just a few of the posts, but they generate just as much – if not more – engagement than the kudos for the big client headlines. And among a team of 55 earned media specialists, there are many!
Are we solving for the balance we’re all seeking? No. But we are creating an environment where we're challenging the norms, praising not only the work/result, but the intentional moments we’re taking for ourselves. We’re putting the lens on what makes us human and on how we’re navigating the “unbalance,” and that brings us closer to one another and gets us in closer touch with reality. We’re #makingithappen – a mindset we live and breathe at Real Chemistry – both in the office and outside of the office. In today’s world (where these lines are blurred even more), we know both are equally important.
I'm always interested in learning from others and trying something new. What tips do you have for navigating the “unbalance” and keeping your teams engaged?
