Is Balance An Important Component to Professional Success?

Editor's Comments: I've asked myself that question, wrestled with it, and Glen has made me consider it once again.

I am happy to introduce Glen Gaugh as Guest Blogger for the next few weeks on the subject of professional success. He brings a unique view as he is not from a traditional corporate setting.  This post is the introduction.  The rest of his series will be exclusive to The 1% Edge Portable Coach App. As an SME (subject matter expert), Glenn will have his own tab on the app.  If you've not downloaded it, you can do so here - for now it's still free. Get app here. If you want to follow the topics in the series on Twitter - you can do so with hashtap #1%EdgeApp.

One final note - many of you who have seen my Twitter profile have commented on my tagline, "let's put the human back in human resource."  Glen's post is a reminder of the human component of the workplace experience.

Personal Balance - Professional Success

Working in child and adolescent crisis work, the thing we focus on almost as much as clinical skill is self-care and balance. There are things I can do as a supervisor that may help ease my team's stress level, but remaining balanced falls mostly on my individual counselors. And so it does with you, regardless of your business or position within your company.

I believe personal balance is a key ingredient to professional success.

Stephen Covey described the “emotional bank account” in his landmark book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Making emotional deposits into the lives of family members and friends is important in order to maintain positive relationships, reduce stress, and have support when things around the office begin to take time and toll. The mental picture of an emotional piggy bank still comes to mind when I think of maintaining balance with people who are significant to me.

But for true balance that leads to growth, I want to challenge you to be more than transactional in your relationships with others. Be transformational! How?

• Do not view those emotional deposits as ways to “keep him/her happy” for the next time you have to stay late at the office. Look at it as a way to share your enthusiasm for your work and include others in the reason- and the passion- that you have for doing what you do.
• Let others make deposits into your account.  Share in the stories your loved ones have to tell and support them in their endeavors. Find joy in others’ accomplishments.
• Be appreciative of the ways your closest friends and family bend to allow you to do what you do- and be just as flexible for them.

What keeps you balanced? Do you ever get in the transactional “rut?” How can you build enthusiasm for your professional endeavors, and show enthusiasm for the endeavors of others around you?

About our guest blogger: Glen is a social worker and supervisor for Youth Villages Specialized Crisis Services in West Tennessee (www.youthvillages.org). Youth Villages was named one of the 50 Best Non-profits to work for.  He leads professionals in mental health to help families be their best. 

Connect with Glen at glengaugh.com, @glengaugh, or facebook.com/FaithFamilyFatherhood.

Check out the latest release: Organizational Strategies for the Overwhelmed - how to manage your time, space, & priorities, to work smart, get results & be happy -  Kindle - The Book - Nook - Audio Book -  The Seminar

This blog is based on this book. In it are actionable ideas on being a better manager: The 1% Edge - The Workbook - Power Strategies to Increase Your Management Effectiveness