Commentary: Should we really be listening to leaders’ advice on work-life balance?

Work-life balance advice from business leaders might also not resonate with the rank and file. Surely C-suite executives sacrificed plenty to rise through the ranks.

But is there necessarily a tradeoff between career success and a rich personal life?

SEASONS OF CAREER GROWTH

Career consultants like me always ask clients what is important to them, as this helps them define a professional direction that aligns with their life goals.

Some of the most common answers are family, friends, good food, meaningful work, sleep, spirituality, giving back to the community and hobbies.

If we were to score each of these elements on a scale, it’s obvious that not all elements are going to get equal attention and time. We all know of successful executives who are perpetually online outside working hours, or who have had to miss important milestones in their children’s lives.

When executives are in career acceleration mode, they undoubtedly would focus more time and energy on their work. I would in fact advise career accelerators to take on stretch projects for exponential growth.

Stretch projects can take the form of work in a completely new domain, enabling us to learn more about another business area. They can also be additional responsibilities that help us develop new skills. Taking on stretch projects can be used as leverage for a career move or a promotion.

Correspondingly, executives with young families may choose not to accept stretch projects that would come with greater responsibilities and a heavier workload. They may also decline assignments that require a lot of travel in favour of staying closer to home.