Updated: December 20, 2023
Ask ACE
Ask ACE: I need to jumpstart my business without losing work-life balance
By Donna Brassard, Strategies+
Q: I need to jumpstart my business, but I need a tested guide that shows me how to accomplish a do-over without losing work-life balance. What can you recommend?
ACE advises: I recommend Stephen Covey’s classic, “7 Habits of HIghly Effective People.” I take it out every few years to remind me of how to be more effective at work and home. I use “7 Habits” when training new managers. I have also found that the habits help me manage my personal relationships. The seven habits are common sense, expressed in ways that help you internalize their significance, and implement them in daily life.
Covey tells us to be proactive, put first things first, but begin with the end in mind. “Beginning with the end in mind” is a framework for prioritizing time and resources. Managers prioritize their own time, their employees’ time and the company’s time. New managers are easily distracted by “squeaky wheels,” which seem urgent but are not necessarily important. This “white noise” prevents them from focusing on priorities that will move the company forward — even as the busy work gives them a sense of accomplishment. New managers must develop the habit of prioritizing what is important and allocating resources accordingly.
Covey tells us to develop a habit of trying to understand before expecting to be understood. Managers cannot manage diverse personalities with a one-size-fits all management style. Incorporating standards of cooperation and synergy into personal interactions elicits an employee’s best performance.
Finally, Covey wants us to adopt a balanced approach to life and work. This was my biggest take-away from the book, and my greatest challenge. No one is effective when they are overworked and burned out. Self-care and lifetime learning preserve our strength for work and home. Covey took the guilt and constant battle of work vs. home life away for me.
It’s useful to reread the book to remind us of its common-sense advice. Share it with co-workers and family. It can stimulate great conversations and learning opportunities.
Donna Brassard, an ACE member and former publisher of Mainebiz, is owner of Strategies+, a business consulting firm that helps businesses maximize their potential. Learn more at strategiesplus.biz, and you can reach Donna at db55me@gmail.com.
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