التوازن بين العمل والأسرة

مقدمة

هناك اقتباس مشهور أذكره دائمًا لفريقي: “إذا كنت تريد أن تذهب بسرعة، اذهب بمفردك. إذا كنت تريد أن تذهب بعيدًا ، فاصطحب أحدا “. هناك وفرة من الحكمة في هذا الاقتباس ، وفي جوهره توجد رسالة يجب أن تكون صادقة لنا جميعًا – اصطحب أحدا، فالعملية مجزية أكثر بكثير.

بينما أستخدم هذا الاقتباس في سياق فريقي ، فإنه ينطبق في الغالب في المنزل ، وبالتأكيد عندما تكون رائد أعمال. هذا لا يعني أنه عليك تتعامل مع عائلتك كزميل عمل، ولكن هذا يعني أنه يجب أن ترى عائلتك كأعضاء في فريق. ما الحكمة التي أريد أن أصل إليها؟= التوازن.

الأسرة هي شيء يجعلني محتملا لضغوط العمل ، مما يساعدني الحصول على إحساس بالتوازن. هذا التوازن ، إحصائيًا ، مرتبط بأداء أعلى ، وهذا يهمك كشخص في منصب قيادي.

في هذا المقال ، سأقدم آرائي حول سبب أهمية التوازن في سياق العمل والأسرة ، بالإضافة إلى بعض التوصيات القابلة للتنفيذ التي يمكنك المضي قدمًا بها في حياتك الخاصة.

لماذا التوازن مهم

 يرتبط التوازن في حد ذاته بتحسين الصحة العقلية والبدنية ، وزيادة الأداء في مكان العمل ، والرفاهية العامة. لذلك ، في الواقع ، إذا كنت شخصًا يرى العمل والأسرة كمقايضة ، فيمكن القول إن التوازن أمر بالغ الأهمية حتى تحصل على ظروف مثالية أثناء تواجدك في كليهما.

وجدت الدراسة الوطنية للقوى العاملة المتغيرة مؤخرًا أن ما يقرب من 40٪ من الموظفين قالوا أن عملهم يتعارض مع الحياة الأسرية ، بينما ذكر 35٪ أن حياتهم الأسرية تتعارض مع وظائفهم.

حقيقة أن الناس يعتقدون أن هناك مقايضة بين الاثنين هو مؤشر على عدم التوازن في حد ذاته. أضف إلى ذلك ، الاعتقاد بأن الأسرة يمكن أن تكون متطفلة على العمل. 

هناك فكرة يجب نشرها بين الناس: وهي البحث عن كيفية تعاون العمل والأسرة مع بعضهما البعض.

المحصلة النهائية – التوازن مهم. وإحدى الطرق المؤَكدة التي يمكنك من خلالها تحقيق التوازن هي الاهتمام بوقت العائلة ، وإعطاؤه الأولوية كما تعطي الأولوية لعملك.

في الأوقات التي أكون فيها بعيدًا عن العمل، على سبيل المثال ، عندما أكون محاطًا بالعائلة والأحباء ، أحصل حينئذ على أوضح منظور حول عملي. تلك اللحظات الهادئة هي الأوقات التي أجد فيها إبداعي ، فكرتي التالية ، رؤيتي لما سيأتي بعد ذلك. كل ذلك في بيئة ضغط منخفض ، حيث لا تركز العيون بشكل كبير على اتخاذ القرار. 

فكر في الأمر من منظور كونك قائدا. أنت في وضع يسمح لك بتحديد الطريقة الصحيحة للعمل. 

هل من الصحي لك أن تستمر في العمل وتفقد التوازن في الحياة الأسرية؟ بالطبع لا. 

كقائد.. عليك أن تحدد الطريقة الصحيحة للعمل – إنه أمر حيوي. سيتبعك فريقك ، وسرعان ما يصبح كل قرار تتخذه كقائد جزءًا من ثقافة شركتك ، بغض النظر عن حجمها أو صغرها.

Concept,Of,Harmony,And,Balance,Between,Work,And,Family

كيف أجد التوازن

أولاً ، الشيء الوحيد الذي يجب معالجته هو طبيعة التوازن. التوازن له علاقة كبيرة بالحصول على وظيفة تحبها. أنت لن تسعى إلى تحقيق التوازن إذا كنت تحب ما تفعله – فأنت تمتلك التوازن حينئذ بالفعل. لكن الحقيقة هي أن ضغوط البيئات شديدة الضغط تلحق بنا جميعًا، بما في ذلك أنا.

أنا أعتبر نفسي في دور أحبه ، لكن هل سأحبه لو كان هو كل حياتي؟ في الغالب لا! وهذا جيد. اعتبر نفسك بطارية تحتاج إلى إعادة الشحن ، ووقت عائلتك هو قاعدة الشحن الخاصة بك.

أول شيء أفعله لإيجاد التوازن هو بناء فريق قوي حولي. مفتاح هذا؟ التفويض. عندما تحتاج إلى تخفيف العبء ، وأخذ بعض الوقت بعيدًا عن العمل ، يمكنني الاعتماد على من هم في فريقي.. والعكس صحيح.

 الآن ، بصفتك مالكًا لنشاط تجاري ، عليك أن تجتهد لكي تمتلك مهارة التفويض- إنها مهارة بالغة الأهمية يجب أن تتعلم القيام بها. قم بتعيين موظفين أكفاء على استعداد لتحمل العبء نيابة عنك ، والاعتماد عليهم عند الحاجة، وقم أنت بمساعدتهم عندما يحتاجون لك. 

الأمر الثاني: لا تكن متاحا دوما. الطريقة التي أحقق بها ذلك هي أنني أضع حدودا واضحة مع فريقي ، وأقوم بتوصيل الأولويات بوضوح شديد. عدو التوازن هو الافتقار إلى الوضوح ، لأن الغموض يغذي عدم اليقين الذي يؤدي بعد ذلك إلى الاعتماد عليك. قد يبدو شيئا مميزا أن تكون دائمًا متاحًا على مدار الساعة طوال أيام في بعض الأحيان. ربما قبل 20 عامًا كان من الممكن أن يحظى ذلك بالإعجاب ، لكن اليوم لا يتم النظر إلى ذلك بشكل إيجابي ، والحمد لله على ذلك. سيتم الترحيب بوضع حدود واضحة ، فقط افعل ذلك. 

أخيرًا ، لديك عالم آخر للخوض فيه! ربما هذه النصيحة ليست متعمقة بما فيه الكفاية بالنسبة لي ، لكنها الأكثر أهمية. عندما تترك عالم عملك خلفك في المساء وأثناء عطلة نهاية الأسبوع ، توجه إلى عالم آخر ، إلى روتين آخر. المشي في المساء مع كلبي لوسي جزء من روتيني ، وهو مجرد شيء صغير يمكنني الاعتماد عليه دائمًا لتوفير التوازن في حياتي. انغمس في هوايتين، وستحصل على حياة منفصلة تحدد هويتك، بنفس القدر الذي تقوم به حياتك العملية.

نتائج التوازن

عائلتك نعمة ستساعدك على إطلاق العنان لإمكانياتك كرائد أعمال. في منصبك كرائد أعمال ، هنالك جانبان يجب تحقيق التوازن بينهما (الحياة والعمل) ، وهناك العديد من الطرق للقيام بذلك.

في الواقع ، عليك أن تحقق التوازن بين العمل والأسرة بشكل صحيح ، وستجد نفسك أكثر سعادة ، وستشعر بمزيد من القوة ، وسوف تنام بشكل أفضل ، وستشعر بمزيد من المشاركة ، وستدرك إمكاناتك بدرجة أكبر. كل ذلك مع تعزيز مستوى العلاقات مع أحبائك.. المستوى الذي لطالما أردت الوصول إليه.

 

 

 

 

The Critical Balance Between Work & Family

Introduction

There’s a famous quote I always remind my team of: “if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”. There’s an abundance of wisdom in this quote, and at its heart there is a message that should be true to all of us – go together, the process is far more rewarding.

While I use this quote in the context of my team, it’s mostly applicable at home, and certainly when you’re an entrepreneur. Now, it doesn’t mean you have to be colleagues with your family, but it does mean you should see each other as teammates. The pot of gold at the end of this? Balance.

Family is something that keeps me grounded amongst the pressures of work, helping provide me with perspective and a sense of balance. That balance is, statistically, linked to higher performance, and that matters to you as a person in a position of leadership.

In this article, I will be giving my views on why balance is critical in the context of work and family, how I achieve it, and hopefully providing some actionable recommendations that you can take forward into your own lives.

Why Balance Matters

Balance is kind of a zen term. It’s associated with work-life balance, which is in itself linked to improved mental and physical health, greater performance in the workplace, and better overall wellbeing. So, actually, if you’re somebody who sees work and family as a trade off, it could be argued that balance is actually critical for the optimal conditions of both. 

The National Study of the Changing Workforce recently found that approximately 40% of employees reported that their job interferes with family life, while 35% reported that their family life interferes with their job. 

The very fact that people believe there is a trade off between both is an indication of a lack of balance in itself. Add to this, the belief that family could be intrusive on work, and there’s a case to be made that a serious reevaluation of how work and family are to cooperate with one another. 

The bottom line – balance matters. And one sure way you can find balance is by delving into family time, and prioritising it as much as your work.

It’s often the times away from work for example, when I’m surrounded by family and loved ones, that I actually gather the clearest perspective about my work. Those quiet moments are the times I find my creativity, my next idea, my vision for what comes next. All in a reduced pressure environment, where eyes are not so focused on decision making, and I feel supported in my thinking. 

Think of it from a perspective of leadership too. You’re in a position to set the right tone for your business as a leader, but is it the right thing to promote constant work, and lack of balance in your personal life? Set the right tone as a leader – it’s vital. Your team will follow you, and every decision you make as a leader soon becomes part of the culture of your company, no matter how big or small.

Concept,Of,Harmony,And,Balance,Between,Work,And,Family

How I Find Balance

Firstly, one thing that should be addressed is the nature of balance. Balance has a lot to do with having a job you love. You don’t seek balance if you love what you do – you already have it. But, the reality is that the stresses of high pressured environments do catch up with us all, including myself.

I consider myself to be in a role that I love, but would I love it if it was all I ever focused on? Mostly definitely not! And that’s fine. Consider yourself a battery that needs to be recharged, and your family time is your charging dock.

The first thing I do to find balance is build a solid team around me. The key to this? Delegation. When you need to lighten the load, and take time away from work, I can rely on those in my team to pick up the slack. The same should be true for the other way around. Now, as a business owner this won’t always come naturally to you – it’s a critical skill that you must learn to do. Hire competent staff that are willing to carry the load for you, and pick it up for them when needed, which undoubtedly will come more naturally! 

The second – reduce your availability. The way I achieve this is by setting clear boundaries with my team, and communicating priorities very clearly. The enemy of balance is lack of clarity, as ambiguity fuels uncertainty which then creates reliance on you. It may seem like a virtue to always be available, 24/7 quite literally sometimes. Maybe 20 years ago that would have been admired, but today it’s not looked at so favourably, and thank goodness for that. Setting clear boundaries will be applauded, just go with it.

Finally, have another world to delve into! This is probably my least insightful piece of advice, but arguably the most important. When you leave your working world behind for the evening and the weekend, head into another world, another routine. Evening walks with my darling retriever Lucy are a part of my routine, and it’s just a little something that I can always rely on to provide balance to my life. Throw in a couple of hobbies and you have a separate life that will define you as much as your working life does.

The Consequences Of Balance

Your family is a blessing that will help you unlock your potential as a business leader. In your position as an entrepreneur, these are two constant subjects to balance, but there are many ways to do it.

Indeed, strike the critical balance between work and family correctly, and you’ll find yourself happier, you’ll feel more empowered, sleep better, feel more engaged, and you’ll realise your potential to a greater degree. All while fostering the level of relationships with your loved ones that you’ve always wanted to achieve. 

 

Married to your business partner? 5 ways to manage your work/life balance

The growing number of successful startups founded by married couples shows you that your business can thrive when you work with your other half. Just look at the success of EventBrite, SlideShare, and Clif Bar & Company.

Nevertheless, if you’re looking to follow the trend, then managing your work/life balance is the key to creating success in your relationship and business.

  • Define your business roles
  • Set strict home & work boundaries
  • Have honest ‘What if?’ discussions
  • Use integrity to nourish relationships
  • Communicate and evolve

Define your business roles

If you’re planning a startup with someone you’re in a serious relationship with, then the issue of workplace hierarchy is something to think about.

The capacity for a power imbalance to cause tension between spouses is highlighted by Meg Cadoux Hirshberg in For Better or For Work. Hirshberg worked alongside her husband when he was CEO of Stonyfield Farm yogurt.

She states: ‘Theoretically, you’re in a marriage of equals. But in the workplace, generally, one person is in charge. Even if you don’t report to your spouse, you are still under them. This lopsided relationship can cause tension.’

Since every personal relationship is unique, it’s vital to analyse your dynamics in and out of the workplace and discuss any challenges.

From one perspective, a strong marriage or relationship may create a natural workplace dynamic that can be seamlessly transferred into your business. But in many cases, things aren’t so simple. Maybe your partner is the more active force in your romantic relationship, but needs to play a more supporting role at work:

  • Define your roles
  • Analyse tension
  • Ensure you’re comfortable with the dynamics
  • Keep communicating

Set strict home and work boundaries

Building a business can feel like a 24/7 occupation and requires dedication from all involved.

Without this drive, success is hard to achieve for startups.

But failing to switch off can lead to personal stress, a lack of intimacy with our partners, poor sleep and apathy.

This creates a damaging negative loop.

This is illustrated in the recent Stress Epidemic Report by Wrike which analysed 1,600 professionals in the UK and US. The data reported that 53% of employees lost sleep due to stress, with 54% saying that it affected their personal lives on a weekly basis.

Setting strict work and home boundaries is the key – but it’s not always easy. If work is necessary from home, it can be useful to avoid direct work communication and opt for email and messaging platforms.

  • No business talk during dates and romantic time
  • No stressful and negative business talk outside office hours
  • No face-to-face work discussions with your loved one (use email/messaging platforms for work, face-to-face for personal)

Regardless of your decision on working during leisure time, it’s clear that switching off, relaxing, and sleeping well are very important when it comes to your chances of business success and a healthy relationship with your husband, wife, or partner.

Have an honest ‘What if?’ discussions

If you’re engaged, married, or in a long-term relationship with your current or prospective business partner, then you’re innately striving for a long life together, both at work and romantically. However, considering the impact of ‘What if?’ scenarios is something that can help your business get through tricky situations:

  • What if the business fails?
  • Do you need legal papers to protect you both financially?
  • Impact of pregnancy and family planning?
  • What if a partner wants to exit the business?

While these issues may seem negative, discussing them before you get into a business will have a positive impact by adding to your sense of honesty, communication, and togetherness.

If you are looking to get your company license in the UAE, free zone, or mainland, or even in Qatar and Saudi Arabia –  then our team can help.

Use integrity to nourish relationships

By cultivating professionalism with your spouse or partner at work, you’ll help to create clear boundaries between your business and social life. Over time, this approach can help to create an effective switch in your relationship, maintaining integrity depending on the time and place.

This typically means using your natural professional approach at work, before switching to a soft and tender you at home:

  • Create a different home and work relationship
  • Maintain integrity at work and home
  • Set goals to aim for together
  • Make time for dates and rewards

While it can be uncomfortable to get used to new interpersonal dynamics – such as your soft and tactile partner treating you with grounded professionalism in a work context, this can work well if handled correctly.

Switching dynamics helps to create space, and makes you look forward to your partner’s attention and romantic dates.

Similarly, setting short and long-term goals that you can both aim for, and rewarding yourself with a special dinner, spa, or holiday, is a great way to maintain your bond and gain the motivation to make it all work.

Communicate and evolve

Effective communication is vital in any relationship. But if you enjoy a dual romantic-business union, the benefits of talking transparently are compounded. Talking and evolving together boosts the chances of long-term business and romantic success, so creating a structure to your dialogue and encouraging personal development will support your goals:

  • Weekly reviews of business and home life
  • Use private one-to-one reviews
  • Consider mediated discussions
  • Take joint courses to deepen business & romantic bonds

Invariably, couples who succeed together at home and at work say that love is at the core of their drive and success.

They love each other, they love their business, and they create life goals that they drive to achieve together. But like all good things, dual work-love relationships take effort to cultivate and sustain –meaning it’s vital to manage your work/life balance properly to ensure long-term success.

We are the team of Business Incorporation Zone, your best business setup advisor across the Gulf Region. If you are looking to open your company in Dubai, across the UAE, in KSA or Qatar, get a free zone license, or start a business in the mainland, then we can help. From visa applications to all the necessary admin tasks, we handle it all – leaving you free to get on with your business.