Tweet

Entrepreneurs and small business owners need to take ownership of worklife balance discussion

Written by: David Bohl

Article Overview: The mantra of the late 90’s and the first decade of the 21st century is “Be proactive.” And corporations are doing a fine job of being proactive in claiming ownership of the “work-life” discussion. They’re doing this because when they launch the discussion first, they get to define the parameters—they get to make the rules. Entrepreneurs and small business owners should not try to emulate what large corporations do. Instead, you should look towards owning your own work-life discussion.

Entrepreneurs and small business owners need to take ownership of worklife balance discussion

The mantra of the late 90’s and the first decade of the 21st century is “Be proactive.” And corporations are doing a fine job of being proactive in claiming ownership of the “work-life” discussion.

They’re doing this because when they launch the discussion first, they get to define the parameters—they get to make the rules.

To many companies, good “work-life” balance means providing on-site amenities and conveniences so that employees don’t have to leave work often…and thus, they stay later.

It might also mean that a company allows telecommuting so that employees can work from home via computer, since studies have shown that employees will actually put in more hours per day at home, working online, than at the office.

In short, companies attempt to frame the work-life discussion in a way that is most favorable to them.

The problem is that those solutions generally don’t benefit the employee or enhance his/her life balance.

Therefore, entrepreneurs and small business owners should not try to emulate what large corporations do. Instead, you should look towards owning your own work-life discussion.

The discussions that companies have with their employees about work-life balance are adversarial by nature. At the heart of it, the company wants more work from the employee and the employee wants more time off.

Thus, company-employee discussions are win-lose propositions because they invariable end up being about the corporation versus the employee.

The good news is that this needn’t be the case for the entrepreneur and small business owner. For you, your business and your family are not mutually exclusive—they’re intertwined.

Particularly in the case of home-based businesses, you can do things that most companies wouldn’t allow, such as tend a sick child during coffee breaks, or spend lunch doing laundry with your spouse.

Or you could take a page from pre-World War II life, when traffic in cities had yet to become horrible, and sit down and have lunch with your spouse and kids (pre-WW II, most men who worked in offices drove home to have lunch, since traffic wasn’t the huge issue it is now, and cities were not as large.)

As a business owner, you own the discussion when it comes to balancing your life and your work. You can make trade-offs. If your child needs a chaperone for a school field trip on a Thursday afternoon, you can take off and go (don’t forget to change your voicemail and email to reflect that you’re out of the office.)

David Bohl of Reflections Coaching, LLC, has these suggestions for taking ownership of your work-life balance:

1. Define your priorities
2. Define your work boundaries, such as where you work and what your business hours are.
3. Define possible exceptions to business hours, such as your child’s field trips, doctor visits, birthdays, et cetera.
4. Make a contingency plan for how you will deal with exceptions (for example, “If I take off a weekday afternoon, I’ll put in a half-day on Saturday.”)
5. Talk with your spouse and kids and find out what they’d like as far as time spent with you, and when.


Copyright 2007 David B. Bohl, Reflections Coaching, LLC. All rights reserved.

Related Articles
  Choose a Structure
  WorkLife Flexibility Primer: Tips on Making it Happen
  WorkLife Serenity: Cold Turkey Style
  What is flexible working anyway?
  Factoring In Canada – Invoice to Cash Conversion – Benefit of Alternative Financing

Article Tags:



Related Forum Posts
Depends on the conditions - If for example I give up ownership, but the owners commit to pursuing my vision with my product, then I will certainly considering giving up ownership. Contingent on my being able to buy back ownership in the event of incompetence or if the new owners fail to follow through with my vision.
Re: Balancing Your Man & Business - This is SOOOO real. . Keeping first things first has kept the balance. First God, then everything else. When I start the day with prayer and meditation, I prioritize better. There are certain things I must do each day in business but I remember to schedule quality time with my mate AND I'm attentive too. I noticed when I don't put God first, I struggle to keep a balance and wonder how we'll add kids to the paradigm. When I do it right EVERYTHING falls into place. Besides that, we BOTH really ENJOY business. We're both self-employed. I like this thread. This has been BIG discussion with us of late. We've both gotten MUCH better. It's no small thing either.
Small Business Seminar Presenters Required Across Canada - In March 2007 BizLaunch we will start presenting small business seminars across Canada. I am in the process of recruiting experienced business owners with good presentation skills and a passion for small business to present these seminars. 1. The seminars will be 90 minutes long 2. The seminars will start at 6.30pm 3. The seminars will be held in convenient locations 4. The subjects will include business planning, marketing, sales, website marketing, taxes etc. 5. The audience will be new business owners(0 - 5 years) 6. The presenters will be supplied with the presentation slides required 7. The seminars will be free to small business owners attending 8. Presenters will be evaluated on their presentation by the audience 9. Equipment will be supplied by BizLaunch 10. Presenters will be compensated for the presentations $250 per seminar 11. Seminar marketing will be done by BizLaunch and its partners 12. These seminars will be a great addition to what is already being offered to small business If you're interested send me one page about yourself and why I should use you to andrew@bizlaunch.ca
20% increase - One of my businesses uses a system to help business owners manage customer relationships and encourage more referrals. I'm finding that this economy is making business owners take a second look at their business and it's assets (aka customers) to see how they can leverage them. Make those Customers (one-time sale) into Clients (repeat sales). I'm finding them more open to having this discussion with me and the results are speaking for itself. Everyone I've worked with so far has seen at least a 20% increase in sales or referrals within 4-6 months all done by managing an existing relationship.
Is The E-Myth The Ultimate Franchise Guide? - Ever since the E-Myth made its way through to becoming one of the most popular books for entrepreneurs, the number of small business owners who have come to me discussing franchising has exploded. Is the E-Myth the reason why so many companies are now looking at franchising their business model? Are there any other resources you can suggest for new franchise owners or people considering it as an option?


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Using Social Media Marketing

What is Discretionary Cash Flow

How To Be A Management Legend

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.