Work-life balance is amongst the most challenging aspects of being a leader. Success and growth, more often than not, comes coupled with heavy workloads and long hours. As a result our personal lives can inevitably take a hit. Being plugged in to work at all times via email and text takes a heavy toll on both, the health and the happiness.

How do you feel when you’re done for the day at work?  Do you feel excited about doing things that you love besides work, like spending time with your family, pursuing a hobby or are you merely looking at replenishing your energy to start another workday? If you are thinking about your deadlines, meetings and other office tasks while you are not at your desk, it’s time to introspect. You need to work out a plan so that your work responsibilities aren’t overwhelming your home life.

For a leader, maintaining peak performance at work, both for self and team members, often leads to stress and anxiety. Responsibilities and deadlines can easily roll over into a team member's personal life. And, as a repercussion, there could be anything from health problems, to burnout, to job dissatisfaction. It is therefore, in a leader’s interest to help himself and his team to ensure a healthy work environment where everyone can happily contribute to achieve organizational goals. As a matter of fact, stronger loyalties and better retention is observed in organizations that assist their employees in achieving a sound work-life balance.

Here are few things that you as a leader can incorporate to have a steady work-life balance:

Set priorities and work with unadulterated focus

Working hard when accompanied by working smart yields flawless results. While the leaders can motivate their team to work hard, they should also focus on working smart. The leaders must prioritise the work and subsequently delegate the work amongst their team members wisely. Proper planning and adequate work distribution helps in completing the task effectively and on time. Bottom line: While you are working, give your unadulterated focus to work, so that you not only complete the work on time but complete it flawlessly.

Work flexibility

Don’t be a horse with blinkers that cannot see anything barring the goal. Flexibility in working style and hours not only helps you to be more creative and satisfied but also immensely assists in balancing your work and personal life. If you’re giving your best to the job, time and style don’t matter. Leaders should allow their team members to adjust their work time in harmony with their personal life. Once the task is assigned, a leader or his team members must have the freedom to work out their schedules as per their convenience to meet their objectives.

Incorporate technology

Technology not only helps you to be more effective at work, but also plays its part in maintaining a work-life balance. Access to technology has made a lot of things automated and digital, thereby making your work easier and faster. Leaders must employ the latest applications and software that can help them accomplish their tasks more efficiently. They can also extend the same practice to their team and help them to achieve a work-life balance for themselves.

Respect your personal commitments

Leaders who are usually burdened with responsibilities often ignore their personal commitments. Gradually they develop this into a habit and feel guilt-free on compromising with personal obligations. They should set new principles for themselves that gives their private life equal importance and inspire their team members to follow suit.

It is essential for a leader to have a happy and satisfied team in order to have a congenial atmosphere at work. So, while maintaining a balance between their own work and personal life, they should also set an example for their team members to follow.

At The Taplow Group we focus on Training and Development programs for Leaders to enable them to nurture successful and happy teams. We encourage our partner organizations to consider ways to open up the lines of communication and have an on going dialogue with all employees. To know more about how The Taplow Group can help you with your Human Capital Development & Training, visit www.Taplowgroup.com