LEADERSHIP: IT MAY BE O.K. TO BE A WORKAHOLIC

Published: 2007-08-07   please add a comment below

There are times when we stretch ourselves to breaking point. On top of our regular commitments, a parent gets ill, a child’s in trouble, a project goes pear-shaped. For short periods, it’s possible. We push to extreme; then, re-balance.

People around us may tolerate our excesses for that short period – accepting our distractedness, bad temper or irrational acts. But, if we’re always out of control, they’re likely to jack up – or we may “resolve” the problem ourself by getting ill.

But, the issue isn’t the scale of the load but how it’s handled. And, there’s no single answer or perfect life-balance. It’s about sustainability: whether you and those around you (at work and at home) can remain happy, healthy and productive.

I’ve seen entrepreneurs work crazy hours and thrive – particularly if they’re single. But, also when married. They’re challenged and happy and still full of energy and love-of-life (and of those around them) at work and also when they get home.

Others, working shorter hours, can hate their job and arrive home angry. Their problem is a disconnect between their dreams and reality. They want to be creative or make the world a better place – but are stuck in repetitive, mundane work.

Sustainability is about both physical and value commitments. To this end, do you keep fit and healthy? Resolve conflicting values? Ensure enough social interaction and time to refresh yourself? Create space to reflect? What would your work colleagues say; and, your partner, family or friends? Is your life pattern sustainable: for you; and, for them? Is the issue overload; or, unaligned values? Or, something else? And, what are you doing about it?

You can get your life in order!

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Dr. Timothy Pascoe AM
PhD (Cambridge), MBA (Harvard), BE & BEc (Adelaide)
Creator, V|E|C|T|O|R Leadership^®

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