We often talk about work/life balance but how much do we adhere to it? Our kids get homework so from a young age we are conditioned to take work home with us. Then at some point corporate has a meeting espousing the need for work/life balance. What gives? We have been conditioned to accept that work is something that should be present in our personal lives.
As an interviewer or manager a really good way to highlight the disconnect is to ask two questions:
- What is your role?
- What is your job?
When you ask someone what is their role they will most likely tell you about their job. Asking the second question highlights the difference between them.
My role:
- I am a Parent
- I earn money to provide
- I look after myself so I can be present for my kids, family and friends
- I take care of my mental health so I don’t become overwhelmed
- I make plans for the future so I have something to look forward to
My Job:
- I type stuff into a screen so computers do magic stuff
- I make sure my team has access to the support they need
- I present my brands in the best possible way for success in their markets
The more we bring our jobs into our roles the more we blur the lines of the ultimate “why” that drives us. It’s not unusual that some of my gigs start at 1AM because of the timezone I am working in. Do you think I would be effective if I lost sight of my “why”? Sure I was up at 6:30AM to do the school runs and cooked dinner in the evening.
The “why” is the reason I can take it all in my stride.
What I am suggesting is your role comes first and your job comes second. Of course it isn’t always going to work out. You might find that you promised to take your kids out but you have been offered overtime. That’s fine. Your job is here now but your role could be here for your lifetime.
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