This is something of a crusade for me.
For years I have quietly sat by and listened to people seek, demand and sometimes promote work/life balance, but I cannot sit by any longer without taking up the fight against one of the great myths that has infected workplaces globally in the last two decades.
Work/life balance is a sham. At best it is a concept that is misguided and is fundamentally flawed and is promoted by well-meaning people who have bought into the clever psychological framing and marketing that surrounds it. At worst it has no purpose other than to serve the market created by consultants who live off the back of its carriage.
Here are a few reasons for my vitriol against the work/life balance myth (WLBM)
The environment that created the WLBM
Big business and multinationals from past eras have a lot to answer for. For over 100 years they sought (under the principles of Taylor’s scientific management) to turn an army of people into robots and strip back their humanity. It still lives on. Ask yourself this question: ‘have you ever felt treated like a number at work?’ The answer is likely to be a yes.For a century we asked people to not be people (Fordism, Japanese TQM etc) and the result? People felt the need to be someone at work and someone else at home. Be a robot between 9-5 and be a human being the rest of the day.
Separation and segregation were almost a necessity under the robot regime. But workplaces have changed significantly. The modern workplace cries out for humanity at work. Innovation and creativity are still the domain of the human being and not the robot.WLBM was introduced to help people with the segregation and separation, often when people craved something altogether more desirable; an experience where work was as desirable as the rest of their lives. The WLBM is a system developed to try and mitigate the damage of another system... not a great recipe for success.
It serves people not playing to their strengths
Gallup’s research around people not working to their strengths is legendary. 17% of people surveyed responded in the affirmative (do you work in your strength areas at work?). So the flip side of that is less than 2 
in 10 people at work actually work towards their strengths. Ouch! That means more than 80% of people at work aren’t bringing the best of themselves to work.There a plenty of causal variables at play here, but the whole WLBM has a centre-stage role in this lack of people playing a bigger game. Think about it; while ever there is a methodology that asks us to put up with a ‘less than’ work environment, and remedy it with an awesome home life is fundamentally flawed. Here’s a novel idea: have an awesome work experience too!
Balance means equality
When we look at the term ‘balance’ it means to have an even distribution of weight.When used in the phrase work/life balance it seems to suggest if we have X amount of hours at work, we need X amount of hours doing stuff we like/love to ‘balance’ the scale. This principle send cold shivers up my spine, and then the evidence I see makes me nearly weep. Because it never plays out in such a segmented, balanced fashion. Here’s how it really plays out in the real world.WLBM - She works all week in a job she hates, but her weekends should be awesome to ‘balance’ her life.Real world - She works all week in a job she hates, then spends all weekend stressing about the week that’s been, and the week that comes.WLBM - He works his backside off all year and should be able to put his feet up and enjoy a four week ‘recharge’ on annual leave. 
Real world - He works his backside off all year, and his last week leading into leave is so busy he gets sick and spends the first week of his holiday in bed. Then spends time checking emails and phone all holidays so as not to be swamped on return.WLBM - They think by putting up with an awful workplace for 20 years they will finally start living on their retirement and that will make it all better.Real world - After putting up with that awful workplace for twenty years they suffer ill health from years of stress and their retirement isn’t the bed of roses they were after.
So there are just three reasons why work/life balance is a myth. It deserves to be filed under other failed experiments from bygone eras like the jet pack or x-ray glasses. The only thing is not many people bought the jet pack or the glasses.
I don't know about you, but I don't mind at all if my life is completely out of balance... especially if that imbalance is caused by large doses of awesome at work and at home. Warm wishes,
Darren
Have you checked out www.darrenhill.com.au? Check it out and leave your lasting impression.
Invite your friends and colleagues to sign up to our newsletter
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The PLUG: Dealing with the Tough Stuff Program General Sessions
After the amazing success of our Dealing With the Tough Stuff Exclusive Showcase, three general sessions will be presented between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Want to know why you don't want to miss them? Check out our Rave Reviews!
Thursday 16 June 2011
Time: 9:00am to 4:30pm
Location: Robina
Venue: TBA
Thursday 28 July 2011
Time: 9:00am to 4:30pm
Location: Brisbane
Venue: TBA
Having trouble delivering results from critical conversations?
'Dealing with the Tough Stuff' gives you, your management or organisation practical tools to deal with the really tough conversations within your workplace.
Many managers struggle with the process of dealing with tough conversations and in many cases actually avoid them completely. This strategy of avoidance reinforces undesired behaviours and may precipitate further problems.
One of the biggest responsibilities with a leadership position is the importance of addressing and dealing with staff issues. At times this requires you to 'step up to the plate' and ultimately deal with the tough stuff.
Visit www.toughstuffprogram.com for more information on Dealing with the Tough Stuff.
To register your interest for a Dealing with the Tough Stuff program either on the Gold Coast or in Brisbane on please contact Matt on 0418 577 277 or matt@pragmaticthinking.com.
THE GIFT: Email Sanity: How to Clear Your Inbox When You're Drowning
This weeks gift is something Darren truly believes. This is, your inbox is probably making you more unproductive than productive. do you find you have so many emails that you cannot find that piece of information you are looking for? Check out zenhabits for some tips on clearing your inbox. Alternatively, dump it altogether! Your world won't collapse.
This is something of a crusade for me.
For years I have quietly sat by and listened to people seek, demand and sometimes promote work/life balance, but I cannot sit by any longer without taking up the fight against one of the great myths that has infected workplaces globally in the last two decades.
Work/life balance is a sham. At best it is a concept that is misguided and is fundamentally flawed and is promoted by well-meaning people who have bought into the clever psychological framing and marketing that surrounds it. At worst it has no purpose other than to serve the market created by consultants who live off the back of its carriage.
Here are a few reasons for my vitriol against the work/life balance myth (WLBM)
The environment that created the WLBM
Big business and multinationals from past eras have a lot to answer for. For over 100 years they sought (under the principles of Taylor’s scientific management) to turn an army of people into robots and strip back their humanity. It still lives on. Ask yourself this question: ‘have you ever felt treated like a number at work?’ The answer is likely to be a yes.
For a century we asked people to not be people (Fordism, Japanese TQM etc) and the result? People felt the need to be someone at work and someone else at home. Be a robot between 9-5 and be a human being the rest of the day.
Separation and segregation were almost a necessity under the robot regime. But workplaces have changed significantly. The modern workplace cries out for humanity at work. Innovation and creativity are still the domain of the human being and not the robot.WLBM was introduced to help people with the segregation and separation, often when people craved something altogether more desirable; an experience where work was as desirable as the rest of their lives.
The WLBM is a system developed to try and mitigate the damage of another system... not a great recipe for success.
It serves people not playing to their strengths
Gallup’s research around people not working to their strengths is legendary. 17% of people surveyed responded in the affirmative (do you work in your strength areas at work?). So the flip side of that is less than 2 in 10 people at work actually work towards their strengths. Ouch! That means more than 80% of people at work aren’t bringing the best of themselves to work.
in 10 people at work actually work towards their strengths. Ouch! That means more than 80% of people at work aren’t bringing the best of themselves to work.There a plenty of causal variables at play here, but the whole WLBM has a centre-stage role in this lack of people playing a bigger game. Think about it; while ever there is a methodology that asks us to put up with a ‘less than’ work environment, and remedy it with an awesome home life is fundamentally flawed. Here’s a novel idea: have an awesome work experience too!
Balance means equality
When we look at the term ‘balance’ it means to have an even distribution of weight.
When used in the phrase work/life balance it seems to suggest if we have X amount of hours at work, we need X amount of hours doing stuff we like/love to ‘balance’ the scale. This principle send cold shivers up my spine, and then the evidence I see makes me nearly weep. Because it never plays out in such a segmented, balanced fashion. Here’s how it really plays out in the real world.
WLBM - She works all week in a job she hates, but her weekends should be awesome to ‘balance’ her life.
Real world - She works all week in a job she hates, then spends all weekend stressing about the week that’s been, and the week that comes.
WLBM - He works his backside off all year and should be able to put his feet up and enjoy a four week ‘recharge’ on annual leave.
Real world - He works his backside off all year, and his last week leading into leave is so busy he gets sick and spends the first week of his holiday in bed. Then spends time checking emails and phone all holidays so as not to be swamped on return.
WLBM - They think by putting up with an awful workplace for 20 years they will finally start living on their retirement and that will make it all better.
Real world - After putting up with that awful workplace for twenty years they suffer ill health from years of stress and their retirement isn’t the bed of roses they were after.
So there are just three reasons why work/life balance is a myth. It deserves to be filed under other failed experiments from bygone eras like the jet pack or x-ray glasses. The only thing is not many people bought the jet pack or the glasses.
I don't know about you, but I don't mind at all if my life is completely out of balance... especially if that imbalance is caused by large doses of awesome at work and at home.
Warm wishes,Darren
Have you checked out www.darrenhill.com.au? Check it out and leave your lasting impression.
Invite your friends and colleagues to sign up to our newsletter
Are we friends yet? Find us on Facebook.
Are we friends yet? Find us on Facebook.
---------------------------------
The PLUG: Dealing with the Tough Stuff Program General Sessions
After the amazing success of our Dealing With the Tough Stuff Exclusive Showcase, three general sessions will be presented between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Want to know why you don't want to miss them? Check out our Rave Reviews!
Thursday 16 June 2011
Time: 9:00am to 4:30pm
Location: Robina
Venue: TBA
Thursday 28 July 2011
Time: 9:00am to 4:30pm
Location: Brisbane
Venue: TBA
Having trouble delivering results from critical conversations?
'Dealing with the Tough Stuff' gives you, your management or organisation practical tools to deal with the really tough conversations within your workplace.
Many managers struggle with the process of dealing with tough conversations and in many cases actually avoid them completely. This strategy of avoidance reinforces undesired behaviours and may precipitate further problems.
One of the biggest responsibilities with a leadership position is the importance of addressing and dealing with staff issues. At times this requires you to 'step up to the plate' and ultimately deal with the tough stuff.
Visit www.toughstuffprogram.com for more information on Dealing with the Tough Stuff.
To register your interest for a Dealing with the Tough Stuff program either on the Gold Coast or in Brisbane on please contact Matt on 0418 577 277 or matt@pragmaticthinking.com.
THE GIFT: Email Sanity: How to Clear Your Inbox When You're Drowning
This weeks gift is something Darren truly believes. This is, your inbox is probably making you more unproductive than productive. do you find you have so many emails that you cannot find that piece of information you are looking for? Check out zenhabits for some tips on clearing your inbox. Alternatively, dump it altogether! Your world won't collapse.
Great post Darren.
ReplyDeleteI have just finished Tim Ferriss' 4 Hour Work Week in which he treats the whole Work/Life Balance idea with similar disdain.
In my line of work I am constantly dealing with workers who have this idea that their pending retirement will be a magical time of fulfillment and energetic freedom, a reward for the 30+ years of service they have given to the company. A lot of these people are burnt out physically and mentally, greatly reducing their quality of life and choices available.
Nigel Marsh gives his view on WLB via his TED Talk here: http://www.ted.com/talks/nigel_marsh_how_to_make_work_life_balance_work.html
Thanks for the comments Dave. Tim Ferris has a new book out now about the '4houring' your health...should make for an interesting read.
ReplyDeleteAgain, thanks for your comments and taking up the fight against WLBM