In an intriguing article I came across, Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, takes a different spin on work-life balance. His viewpoint is definitely worth sharing and thinking about. You can read it here.
According to the article, Bezos believes the term “work-life balance” is a debilitating phrase, that it indicates trade-offs between the two. The term he prefers—one he lives and preaches to employees—is “work-life harmony.” Brilliant distinction.
Leadership Tip
Instead of striving to find balance between work and life, search for harmony between them.
I’m not sure this subtle difference in terminology will change what you do or how you do it, but at least think about it. Ask yourself, “In what areas am I not in harmony?”
- Communication? You deal with too many surprises that negatively affect harmony in your life.
- Quality of time? You have too many distractions or interruptions that prevent feeling in harmony.
- Amount of time? You spend too much time in one area of life at the expense of other key areas.
For me, harmony is all about flow, about being in sync with my environment.
Find your harmony—and help others find theirs. Once you do, you will achieve greater levels of satisfaction that lead to better engagement and results, both at work and outside of it.