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If you want to be the CEO, expect to put in the hours
Work-life balance is your problem, not your employer's
BY: MICHAEL STERN June 18, 2005
Today, it is not uncommon to hear statements such as "I can't work late tonight. I have to pick up my son at Scout camp," or "This proposal will have to wait. My mother-in-law goes into hospital tomorrow."
It's just another day at the office, 21st-century style, where enlightened employers have learned to accept people's needs for better balance between work and home life.
Or have they? Maybe some companies are ready to work around employees' personal schedules, but don't bet on it. Pushing your personal agenda too far or too often could affect your reputation -- and future career moves.
Few companies will acknowledge this. But the issue was dragged into the light recently by Jack Welch, the former chief executive of General Electric. In his book Winning (co-authored with his third wife, Suzy), "Neutron Jack" puts the notion of work-life balance into stark perspective.
First, he questions the commitment of today's companies to the whole idea of balance: "Bosses know that the work-life policies in the company brochure are mainly for recruiting purposes, and that real work-life arrangements are negotiated one-on-one in the context of a supportive culture, not in the context of, 'But the company handbook says ...!' "
He warns that depending too much on your employer's tolerance could hurt your chances of advancement. "People who publicly struggle with work-life balance problems and continually turn to the company for help get pigeonholed as ambivalent, entitled, uncommitted, incompetent -- or all of the above."
At most companies, Welch writes, "There's lip service about work-life balance, and then there's reality. To make the choices and take the actions that ultimately make sense for you, you need to understand that reality: Your boss's top priority is competitiveness. Yes, he wants you to be happy, but only inasmuch as it helps the company win."
Of course, Welch could be biased. During his 20 years at the helm of GE, he was notorious for cutting nearly 100,000 jobs. Fortune magazine called him "the toughest boss in America."
But is Mr. Tough Guy right? Do his remarks apply in Canada? The answer is yes.
Employers understand work-life balance and are more supportive than they were in the 1960s or '70s. More companies offer flexible work hours, telecommuting and caregiver leaves. However, these companies also face growing competitive challenges that don't take "time-outs" when you take your children camping.
I know how controversial this sounds in today's kinder, gentler era. But the sad truth is, it's harder than ever to balance an executive career and a personal life. Accepting this is your first step toward making it work.
If you want to be on the fast track, you must recognize finding balance is your problem, not your employer's. Climbing the corporate ladder is still a 50- or 60-hour-a-week responsibility. But it doesn't have to take 90 or 100 hours. Don't forget the "life" part of work-life balance and get your wake-up call the hard way.
One executive I know said all the right things about work-life balance but couldn't walk the walk. He was part of a hard-driving industry and was so determined to advance his career that he frequently worked into the wee hours and slept in his office. Only his wife's divorce filing woke him up.
People determined to have a life as well as a career can achieve work-life balance by being realistic, determined and disciplined. Here are a few ways to help achieve that goal:
- Recognize the company's stated work-life policies are irrelevant. The actual leeway for dealing with personal issues depends on what the boss is prepared to tolerate.
- Discuss with your boss how much flexibility you have without jeopardizing your career.
- To have any kind of negotiating power, you need a strong track record. Don't let family matters compromise your performance or put you behind in your work.
- Be as flexible as possible. It's virtually impossible for key executives to leave work at the same time every day, so you'd better have other arrangements in place.
- You will always be competing for attention and promotion against colleagues who don't have children, ailing pets or ageing parents. No matter how demanding your personal life may be, you still have to outperform them.
- When being considered for a new job, don't emphasize your family responsibilities. Let the interviewer know you have a positive, fulfilling home life. But don't talk about how hard it is to get the children to school every day. Employers want you to devote all your energies to their problems, not yours.
- When it is family time, give your loved ones your full attention. Put away the file folders and turn off the BlackBerry. Don't tell your family members how important they are -- show them.
You can win in family life as well as in business. But don't expect the victory to be easy.