Managers Letter
The Success of the Well-Balanced Professional
by Rick Griggs
Throughout the ages, great leaders and successful individuals have shared a common bond: they learned how to achieve balance in their lives. They took care of themselves and their families first. They knew, perhaps instinctively, that the enlightened professional works to live, not the other way around.
Many contemporary professionals ignore this enlightened view and adopt workaholic and other unhealthy patterns in their efforts to achieve success. The irony is that these habits are more likely to contribute to failure than they are to success.
The average employee brings many things to the workplace, but balance and peace of mind are seldom among them. Yet these two qualities have more to do with high job performance, quality workmanship and a vertical career path than anything else. Acquiring them is both easy and fun.
Historically, lifetime learners have followed three principles that helped shape their success into something called careerstyle.
Careerstyle
is a fine melding of career focus and personal lifestyle into a cohesive, smooth way of life. These are consistency, variety and moderation.
Be Consistent.
Consistency means building the right habits into your lifestyle in such a way that the "default" mode becomes the healthy and balanced choice. In his autobiography, Charles Darwin said that he wished he had been more consistent in his exposure to music, poetry and other outside interests. He said this would have added value to his life and kept him from losing appreciation for them in later life.
Add Variety.
Variety keeps a person going through the drudgery and rough spots in life and work. President Teddy Roosevelt almost became a legend for the extremely "varied" hunting and outdoor activities he engaged in. Ernest Hemingway produced much of his work based on his actual travels. Adding variety to your life could mean eating different kinds of food, reading many types of books and magazines, and even exploring different ways of getting a job done. That's how many creative and time-saving innovations are born.
Be Moderate.
The ancient advice of moderation in all things still rings true. Perhaps this concept is even more pertinent in today's time of conflicting priorities and rapid technological changes that constantly affect daily life. Many of the enduring celebrities of our time have come back to moderation in their dress and demeanor on the advice that moderate ground leads to greater longevity in their careers and personal lives.
The enlightened professional really does work to live. Work is a means to a satisfying, productive life that includes loyalty and devotion to the organization that allows its people to make a living in exchange for their talents and skills. Most organizations ride the survival roller coaster better when their people are well rounded and balanced -- two characteristics that correlate with success.
The stories of those who built solid fortunes and reputations are filled with the usual ups and downs. Yet they often include information on how individuals remained well educated, well networked and well balanced! These people knew that sustained accomplishment was the result of more than just effort. Everyone tries hard, but precious few build the symmetry and equilibrium into their
careerstyle
that will buffer them when they need it most.
There is a tool called Macro Balance that assesses and quantifies core priorities. It's interesting that, among all the varied priorities (work, family, health, spiritual needs, community service, etc.), work is selected eight times out of ten as being out of balance. Those professionals who embody consistency, variety and moderation are more likely to rate their work life as being in balance than those who don't. When asked, "Was it after you became successful that you balanced the work part of your life?" successful people usually answer, "Definitely not. I've always placed high value on other parts of my life." Results confirm this attitude.
Henry Ford said, "Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 20 or 80. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young." Learning to balance could help you stay young, happy and productive.
Are You Well Balanced?
Seven Indicators of Life Balance
No more than 50% of waking hours spent earning a living.
One block of quiet reflection time each day.
Regular contact and interaction with "older" people.
Regular contact and interaction with "younger" people.
Weekly "unplugged" time where worries seem to disappear.
Control of actions and habits that affect your body's health.
Control of actions and habits that affect your mind's health.
But wait! There's more to the story. Anyone who thinks they can simply add balance to their lives without upgrading their achievement skills is in for a surprise. In order for balance to work, remember to assess and improve your teamwork and your relationships. Here's someone with a bad reputation but some great ideas on tuning up your relationships.
It was the year 1532 when Niccolo Machiavelli's
The Prince
was published -- five years after the author's death. The book's survival tips -- the end justifies the means, the lion roars and takes what he needs, the fox outsmarts others for his needs -- were aimed at princes and leaders of the day. Misunderstanding his advice created waves in 1532 and tears relationships apart today. Professional relationships blossom when we take sound advice and use the strength of the lion and the strategy of the fox for survival.
Lessons from Machiavelli
The LION roars and takes what it needs
The FOX thinks and plans ahead
The DOVE sees all sides and tries to make peace
Be an anchor.
Like the ship dropping anchor off shore, you too can stabilize relationships with solid personal traits and characteristics. Some of these include integrity, constant amiability and being on the cuttingedge -- always knowing the new technology or the latest trends in the industry. Think of your friends and colleagues who have endured the years. Most will have anchor-type traits you can quickly identify and always count on.
Don't do stupid things.
Many coaches and authors have attempted to give this advice in graphic and eloquent ways. To our surprise, the simplest methods often work best. When asked what is the secret of cultivating good professional relationships, Mary Cruz, Production Supervisor of Komag, Inc., says without hesitation, "Just don't do stupid things. Avoid actions that most reasonable people would label stupid."
Excuses...excuses.
Relationships are tested, strained and finally broken as you pile excuse upon excuse for not doing what you said you would do. While you're giving the excuse, your associate is frantically thinking of how to fix the problem or who can complete the project -- at the last minute. Jeremy Warren of the Warren Consulting Group told a recent class at the University of California, San Francisco: "An excuse is a reason that's been given more than once."
Forget your agenda.
If, as Dale Carnegie said, "the sweetest sound in the world is the sound of one's own name" then the most pleasant work activity is the complimentary discussion of one's own e-mail, report or project. To sweeten relationships, become expert at names and special days, but also lay your own personal agenda aside and immerse yourself in the plans, needs and interests of other people. Yes, it "wastes" time up front but the payback is immense in the short and long term.
Log off and unplug.
Your hot new software product won't match personal interaction. The personal touch can't be overlooked. And as vital as the Internet is for worldwide "webbing," it's not going to make your career a success by itself. Staying abreast of technology is essential and so is personal contact with others. It's like people who never remove their headphones at the gym or while jogging -- they wonder why they rarely make new friends that last! Remember, the human touch cements relationships.
Step out of line.
Once in a while consider breaking the mold you have created. Sometimes it's useful to raise a few eyebrows. Don't be so much of a rusty anchor that people forget you're there.
Match the power.
Look at what works and then match it. If certain colleagues require small talk and friendliness, provide it. Some co-workers feel better with lots of backup information -- provide it. Many bosses want quick solutions and alternative choices -- provide them as well! Take the time to research what people need to first feel comfortable, and then move forward. Provide what they need.
We all can't be lions or foxes as Machiavelli cautioned, but perhaps a mixture of the two with the addition of the "dove" -- the peacemaker -- gives us a powerful store of ammunition. As usual, with the proper selection of ammunition, or tools, we can build strong businesses, stable careers and sterling professional relationships. Even Machiavelli would like that.
Rick Griggs,
author of
Professional Balance
, writes and teaches about corporate achievement, maintaining employee humanity and balance. He is the founder and director of San Ramon, CA-based Griggs Achievement and Manfit Press.
The
Managers Letter
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Managers Letter
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Managers Letter,
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