Work looks completely different than it ever has before.
The world of work was forced to change -- some of us have been waiting for this change for a long time, while others want everything to go back to the way it was before COVID-19. Every day, we learned how to adjust to make room for homeschooling or alternating video calls with our partners. Looking forward, some may never return to the office full-time, and businesses have accepted that, yes, employees can be productive when working from home.
At SWAYworkplace, we were ready for the change, and our goal is to help you make the most of flexibility and achieve Work-as-a-Lifestyle.
Balance Doesn’t Exist
The first step towards Work-as-a-Lifestyle is the understanding that balance doesn’t exist. Work/life “balance” is fluid and depends on the day, your responsibilities, and even your work style.
In fact, Work-as-a-Lifestyle is the opposite of work/life balance. The phrase “work/life balance” is a corporate term that assumes you have two separate and distinct lives that must be glued together to create a cohesive approach to productivity and, ultimately, happiness. By contrast, “work-as-a-lifestyle” is a personal term that correctly postulates that you are one person, living one life, and endeavoring to make it count.
Businesses have tried to impose balance on their employees with free Friday lunches, lounge areas, and game rooms -- but these do very little to provide balance in everyday life. Many times, these things covered the fact that you were spending more time in the office.
Each employee has different goals for their job: one person may enjoy working extra hours and taking on more responsibility, while another may want predictable hours to complement their child’s school schedule. Neither is better than the other, and both can find fulfillment in their work while building the lifestyle they want for themselves.
How to Achieve Work-as-a-Lifestyle
The world of work has shifted, and it’s ready for more flexible work schedules and trust. We will always be juggling rather than balancing, but make 2021 the year your job fulfills you more than drains you.
How can you set yourself up for success in the new Work-as-a-Lifestyle movement?
Take Ownership of Your Role
The first step in the choice-based, Work-as-a-Lifestyle movement is taking ownership of your current role. Micromanagers lost some control when everyone started working from home, which means you now need to manage yourself.
No matter your job title, don’t wait for someone else to give you explicit instructions. Build trust with your manager by communicating your tasks clearly and asking questions to get you moving onto the next project. As they see your dedication in action, they’ll be more open to a flexible schedule that works for you (and possibly a promotion!).
Work When and Where You Work Best
We often talk about this on the blog (here and here), but the key to the Work-as-a-Lifestyle movement is working when you work best. Finding your most productive time of day and spending uninterrupted time on specific tasks gives your work momentum.
Many parents with children at home do the most work after bedtime, while others may find their most productive hours in the early morning before their inbox starts filling up with distractions. Some people work in a home office or spend a few hours in a library or coworking space to focus.
Whatever time and place you find, communicate it clearly to your manager or those who report to you: they’ll know when to reach you to get the most work accomplished.
For example: one woman said if she needs to email the firm’s partner with important information, she schedules the email to go out around midnight or 1:00 AM. Not so it looks like she works all night, but because he gets online at 4:00 AM to do his uninterrupted work, and she wants her email at the top of his inbox.
Improve Your Communication
At SWAYworkplace, we consult with businesses on how to communicate best with their teams and establish a structure to get work done within a flexible framework. These companies are surprised how productive they can be with the right communication in place.
As you build your flexible work environment based on choice and built on trust, communication becomes critical.
No matter how trusting your manager, they get a little concerned when they don’t know what you’re working on. And as a manager, you need to communicate clear timelines and expectations to your teammates to keep a project moving along.
And sometimes, you just need to catch up on life. Call just to chat with your team, so you know what home struggles keep them offline at certain times during the day. As a manager, make sure they know you fit in time for a workout, so no one feels guilty getting offline to take care of their own health.
Happy Employees, Happy Employers
Before 2020, the biggest problem with flexible work, according to employers, was the lack of company culture. Despite popular tech companies like Zapier and Trello using a 100% remote team and maintaining culture, other businesses didn’t see how it would work.
But the Work-as-a-Lifestyle movement actually creates a better, more sustainable culture.
How? Each employee takes responsibility for their own happiness and productivity, helping them feel more valued and ultimately doing better work.
These happy employees decrease turnover within a company (saving thousands of dollars in training new people) and increase profits as they work better and smarter.
Imposing a company culture isn’t the answer for happy employees and better work. Allowing each employee to take ownership and find fulfillment in their work is the best way to create great culture.
Let’s Start the Conversation
Answer some of these questions for yourself and encourage each other on your search for Work-as-a-Lifestyle:
How has your pursuit of “balance” succeeded or failed?
When do you feel most fulfilled in your work and home life?
Are you a morning person? When do you feel the most productive?