Permissible Balance

Are you an executive, a manager, or a leader?

Do you encourage your team to have balance in their lives?

Really, do you?  Or do we just pay lip service to the concept . . . because we’re not courageous enough to have balance in our own lives.  Do we keep the cell phone always available in case of an “emergency?”  Do we check in even while on vacation (or even take vacations at all)?  Do we openly sacrifice our health and family time?  Do we brag about working long hours or on weekends?

Is all that really necessary for our businesses to function? Are we really that important? Or is it all just necessary to keep our egos inflated?

Because if we turn off the cell phones, delegate, and take time for other things, we need our teams.  And if we need our teams, it means we can’t do it all.  It means we’re vulnerable.  It means we actually have to lead and manage, not dictate.  And I think that requires far more courage than the alternative.

Go ahead.  Give your team real permission to have balance in their lives by demonstrating that you have it in your own.  I dare you.