One of the most difficult tasks for a leader is finding the balance for both himself/herself and their employees

1. One of the more difficult complications a leader will face is
the maintenance of a healthy work life balance and how to
create balance for employees. We must assure that
employees also are not driven to an unhealthy lifestyle. As
a leader, we can also become consumed with the job and
drive ourselves to an unhealthy, unsustainable level of
workload. A leader can become so absorbed in attaining
goals that we raise our expectations of our team to an
unhealthy level. To assure that we allow employees time to
recharge themselves and become more productive, the
following options should be considered.
Work Life Balance is a Key to Success

2. Allow employees to telework as needed. Allowing an
employee the flexibility to carry on operations when
employees can’t get to the office because of family
complications and/or bad weather has an extreme
payback. Conceptually we may think that people will not
be productive while working remotely, but studies show the
temporary relief will invigorate the employee’s outlook on
work and will allow someone’s self-worth to increase.
However, as a leader you must set guidelines as to the
amount of time that is allowed and the requirements to
participate on mandatory meetings.
Leadership Rules

3. Leadership Rules
Avoid directing employees from using the company’s high
tech products for business use only. Past practices told
employees that devices were only for business use. Unless
restricted by information protection, the past practices have
proven ineffective. Employees would shut the company’s
cell phone off after hours and use their personal phones
thereby limiting the benefits of having the device.

4. Give employees the necessary technical tools to be effective.
Offer to pay for part or all of devices that are necessary for
the employees to stay connected. Studies show that
employees will stay connected for longer hours if they have
the devices that allow email and other communications to
occur after hours.
Leadership Rules

5. Set the standard that employees should not be called or
emailed while on vacation unless it is urgent. Define what is
considered urgent and do not violate it. Employees need the
time to recharge themselves and need to feel that it is
acceptable not to engage while on vacation. This also allows
others to step up and demonstrate their worth and
encourages their growth. If it is necessary for an employee to
be available while on vacation or during down time, assure
that the hours are limited. Contingencies should be planned
so that there is someone that can assume the roles
necessary.
Leadership Rules

6. Leadership Rules
Leaders and executives should never be off the grid for
extended times. Employees must feel that they are not
abandoned when the executive is gone. Emergencies do
arise and leaders do need to make decisions. Employees will
respect the executive’s need to be out and will not overburden
them. If a leader does not accept this premise, then they are
not executive material.

7. Set the standards to your team for communications when
they are out. Texting and calling is for urgent issues,
emails are for routine problems, and on line access to
group folders is low priority. Never use social media (i.e.
Facebook, Instagram etc.) to communicate company
issues.
Leadership Rules

8. Establish face to face communications for important issues.
This is the most effective communication and most of these
can be preplanned.
Respect that people are different. Everyone has differnet
priorities and we cannot expect everyone to accept ours. Let
the employee return a call at a later hour if they are home.
Employees have personal lives and they need you to respect
their life as they respect your needs.
Leadership Rules

9. General Rules
Manage your time. When you show up to work, know your
priorities and know how to assure what is reasonable to get
accomplished within the day or week. Delegate out the
remainder to assure it is completed. Make time for hobbies,
passions, and relationships. Few of us live for work alone
and it is not healthy to do so.

10. Take time for you. It is important to remember that all your free
time does not have to be available time. Enjoy some alone
time and time that you do things for you. Have a social life and
schedule social activities where the phone is off. Enjoy
weekends and vacations. Take specific parts of those times
that you are out of communication with work. Let it be known
in advance that you will not be available and then follow
through and don’t be available. Arrange for coverage during
these times for urgent issues. Post the contingency contacts
and do not violate those times with work calls.
General Rules

11. General Rules
Make time for your family. Set those times aside for just
them. Follow the same coverage rules aforementioned but
give them the one on one time they so need and deserve.
If you parenting partner is tied up in work, do not abandon
everyone by getting involved with work issues. Ninety nine
percent of the issues that come to you can be delayed or
postponed for an hour or two. Make family time special
and assure them that they are a priority by not being
involved with work.

12. General Rules
Get your home chores done. Take time for them and plan
them. Be specific in the tasks you will take on and plan
them out. Take on the least favorite task early in the week
as that will allow the task to be taken on without the burned
out feeling from a busy work week. If you leave hard tasks
for when you are exhausted, they will become more
burdensome and irritating. Realize that some tasks will
have to get hired out to other people so only plan for a
reasonable amount of work to be completed by yourself.

13. General Rules
Finally, take care of yourself. Eat a healthy diet, get
enough sleep, make time for relaxation, exercise,
volunteer, and be balanced person. Know when your
life is out of control and if needed seek professional
help.