Dr. Jason’s Speak Life™ Newsletter – Volume 7 Issue 2
Inside This Issue
- Maintaining a Work-Life Balance
- Message from the President
- A Case for Simplicity
- Industry Perspectives
Maintaining a Work-Life Balance
Survey after survey of the workplace has shown that stress is a major problem among employees. Job stress has become a major concern for businesses and organizations. The demands of work life take a toll on the personal lives of workers. The boundary between work and home has become fuzzy. Work does not end when the employee leaves the office or worksite. Technology has tied many workers to their jobs 24 hours a day. Often workers must be available via email or phone outside of working hours. Other negative outcomes are exhaustion and loss of valuable time with family and friends.
The key to addressing this problem is to find a balance between the two worlds. More and more businesses are recognizing the impact of the work-life balance on productivity and creativity of their employees. Employers have a responsibility to ensure staff members are maintaining the necessary balance, and are offering relief for overstressed personnel. Ultimately, however, the decision rests with the individual to take the steps to strike a work-life balance.
Listed below are several steps that can be taken to maintain that balance:
1. Schedule personal time – Mark out time in your calendar each day for yourself. Treat that appointment like you would treat one with your supervisor. You must value yourself.
2. Eliminate “time-wasters” – Identify daily tasks that produce the least return and scratch them from your to-do list.
3. Delegate what you can – If there is an assignment that someone else can do as effectively as you can, pass it along to them. Sometimes just loosening your control can be an instant stress reliever.
4. Work smarter – Use technology to your advantage. Automate tasks that don’t require manual input. Find ways to simplify.
5. Prioritize exercise – Your body is designed for movement. If you can’t go to a gym, take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park your vehicle at the rear of the parking lot. Walk around your office during your break.
It is important to make regular assessments to evaluate your progress toward the goal of work-life balance. Make adjustments as necessary, but stick to the plan.
Message from the President
“…These pioneers had to overcome incredible obstacles to achieve success.”
February is Black History Month in the United States. As we commemorate the achievements of African-Americans to the history of this country, there are numerous lessons we can learn from many of their accomplishments. One of these lessons is resiliency. Many of these pioneers had to overcome incredible obstacles to achieve success. They did not allow rejection or oppression to keep them from accomplishing greatness. The motivation to reach their goal superseded any attempt to hold them back.
For many of us today, our challenges are not nearly as severe as what these men and women faced, yet some of us allow a minor hurdle to deter us from our goals. Let the heroic feats of these Black achievers inspire you to persevere. Never give up on your dreams. Use the obstructions that arise as motivators to keep moving forward. Anything that is worth having is worth fighting for. You can be the next history-maker!
A Case For Simplicity
In a world of complex business theories and processes, tasks can become overwhelming. It is often the most simple idea that makes the most sense. The idea that seems so obvious, is often the one that solves the difficult problem. Bureaucracy and structure can impede progress in many organizations. Often, processes are duplicated among locations or departments. Time and money are wasted because of unnecessary complexity. It also affects employee morale.
Simple strategies can be game-changers for organizations in the areas of 1) marketing, 2) communication and 3) customer service.
1) Customers will remember a simple pitch or slogan about your business that grabs their attention. A campaign that is complicated with most likely be forgotten.
2) People want to know the bottom line. They do not want to read pages of information to get to the facts. A chart or graph will summarize a 10-page report with a simple glance. The attention span of most people is short, and their patience is tested during long meetings.
3) Customers do not want a long list of options when they call into your business for help. I most cases, they would rather speak to a person right away to have their issue addressed. Warranties and return policies should also be easy for customers to understand. Even perks like loyalty programs will not be used if they are too difficult to figure out.
As the above processed are simplified, decisions can be made more efficiently. As a result, productivity and workplace satisfaction are sure to increase.
Industry Perspectives
A part of the job of a consultant is to help the client’s leadership create a winning environment within the organization. This is done by fostering conditions in which people are motivated from within to accomplish a task. This is not something that a person can do for someone else. Understanding and meeting the needs of the team members can go a long way toward achieving this objective. Not only must consultants be experts, but they must also be good listeners. This helps establish credibility and rapport, which are crucial to this process.