Andrea UvanniQuality Program Manager| BE&K Building GroupSchenectady, Ny, United States
Remote accessibility is a huge burden but massive help at the same time. I know when I have projects running on the West Coast and I live on the East Coast, or overnight work for months at a time, I have to be accessible outside of standard business hours. I am single with a three-year old son. He is obviously my first priority. But the success of my projects ensures I can continue to provide for him and makes drawing that line a little sticky.
More often than not, it just comes down to the needs. Does my team need me to answer now or can it wait? Is there a client anticipating an answer immediately? Will my response save us time in coming to a final outcome if I answer during personal time or during work hours?
I will admit I have been on vacation with my son and taken a phone call. One call with a client and one call with the office got the ball rolling in the right direction and allowed my team to begin their tasks without needing me in the office.
The accessibility outside of the office and balancing the work/home life can make it easier to leave the office on days where my son needs more attention and still be a successful PM. I'm never more than an email away, but work get prioritized. Saving Changes...
George LewisProgram/Project Manager| DXC Technology CompanyHeredia, Costa Rica
In the post I explain that the term work-life is inherently flawed because we only have one life...there is not a work "part" of us or our lives; just life. Viewing our work as a separate or competing "part" of our lives can only serve as a detractor and/or negative influence on our lives.
Instead, I feel that we should view our work as the integral player within our lives that it is and give it proper and due priority. Proper prioritization and focus should help us better allocate our time and attention.
Setting limits helps a lot in balancing both Life and work. I have learn it hard way but when you set limits for what really matters you beat "Parkinson's Law". I am still in process of achieving complete balance but setting limits has improved my balance pretty much. Saving Changes...
Wade HarshmanScrum Master| GDITIndianapolis, In, United States
If you are a leader or a manager, this is even more consequential. A leader can say that work/life balance is important, but if s/he fails to demonstrate this balance, then they're just empty words. Leaders and managers often feel compelled to work a little harder than they people they're leading or managing, but this could send the message that we weigh work more heavily than life on those balance scales. Saving Changes...
some occasions we are in project with space to free time and to dedicate to the family. This way, I think that the first step, if is possible, choose good projects (great team, less complexity, close to home).
But if is not possible, we need to keep the family informed about the activities of the project - include the family in the project. Saving Changes...
William RobertsSystem Administrator| The Boeing CompanyIrvine, Ca, United States
For me it comes down to scheduling fun outings and interesting things to do when I'm away from work, but focusing fully on work when I'm at work. When I'm on my sailboat, there's no cell reception, no wifi, no laptop, no work - I am fully present in that moment. When I'm at work I don't use social media to visit with friends and family, I don't read sailing magazines during lunch - I am fully present in my work environment. Saving Changes...
Denise CantyAgile Coach, Life Coach, Author, Senior Project-Program Manager| Cenden CompanyWashington, Dc, United States
A PM has to delegate. Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
What did you have in mind, Denise? I know as a PM I can assign project activities to the team. However, I don't always have a project administrator that can help with my own activities. Saving Changes...
Dinah YoungProject Manager / Software Asset Manager| Prince William CountySpringfield, Va, United States
It is a learning process to figure out how to balance everything. As a manager you take on a lot of responsibility, but you also need to learn what can be delegated to members of your team and what each of them can handle.
Another lesson I had to learn is prioritization. What items do I really need to work late to accomplish today and what can wait until tomorrow. Everyone thinks their task is a number 1 priority, but it is not always so.
And finally, during busy times I always try to set aside a few hours a week or an hour a day that is just "me" time no matter what. Saving Changes...
Suresh KumarAssistant Vice President| Infinite Computers India LtdChennai, Tamilnadu, India
If the project manager has good time management capabilities then work-life balance will be easier for him Saving Changes...
