Constructive Deconstruction

Rethinking work-life balance

January 30, 2008 on 4:19 am | In Reflections | 2 Comments

I’m half way through “Tough Choices” by Carly Fiorina(the former CEO of HP) and one part of the book talked about how HP was, at one point, too isolated from their competition. They were so focused on internal yardsticks that they failed to measure themselves against their competition leading to slowing growth while all their competitors were moving at an ever increasing pace.

One thing mentioned was how just before Carly was appointed, the outgoing CEO Lew Platt was overly focused on work-life harmony within the organisation. I’ve always been a champion of this. But it got me thinking…

Is there a difference between work-life harmony and work-life integration?

Now, I know the latter sounds like it means you give up your “life” and have it revolve only around work. But I’m really referring to the concept of having work meaningful to the point that it becomes something that’s just part of how people want to live.

I think the biggest gift one can give to people is the satisfaction of achieving something that’s just beyond their reach. It enlarges people. It makes them grow and it empowers them to go for greater things in other areas of their life. Empowerment and confidence not only affects the individual but it also affects their families…and their children especially.

Should leaders be trying to put work and life on a scale? Or should they be trying to make meaning of their work?

Now, that’s a question I need to ask myself too.