Time crunches and
juggling responsibilities seem to be the norm for almost every woman you talk
with today. Particularly in times of economic uncertainty we all want to
maximize resources, not the least being the precious resource of time. As
a management consultant I work with women striving for the elusive goal of work-life
balance. While trying to be effective in the workplace, securing and advancing
their careers, many are dissatisfied with the little time and energy left over.
Professionally successful, smart women often feel “out of control” with
what is most important in their lives—their homes and families.
Women with great planning, decision-making and delegating skills at work seem to turn off a switch when they leave the office, feeling overwhelmed with handling their home lives. In an effort to address this gap, I suggest that they take a “professional” approach to caring for their own homes; helping them recognize that many of the skills that make them effective in the workplace can be applied at home with some natural adjustments. I dialogue with women of all backgrounds, offering educational resources that are practical solutions to a more peaceful, less frenetic home life.
Our homes are so personal that “one size” does not “fit all” and we need to discover what will work best for our own families’ needs. As a result, I focus on listening to individual needs, asking key questions and helping them identify realistic goals for streamlining their daily life at home. Changing the culture can be as simple as helping someone step back and see the lasting value of the apparently mundane challenges of the daily juggling effort; that the small changes that contribute to a more peaceful home environment are worthwhile; and that an optimistic, practical approach to the home and family side of work/life balance is as valuable as professional success.
Mary Hunt is the co-founder of HomeAdvantage Plus, a home management consulting company, and is Academic Dean at Lexington College in Chicago.
Do you have an experience you would like to share about
changing the culture in your workplace? Email
us at info@murrayhillinstitute.org