How can you effectively manage your team while maintaining a healthy work-life balance as an executive?

Los equipos, como las personas, no se gestionan. Acabemos con ese lenguaje. Los equipos y las personas se lideran. Y por tanto, yo como lider, no tengo que equilibrar nada. Tengo que dar la posibilidad de que cada persona se gestione su tiempo en base a las necesidades de la empresa y de su vida. Para ello hay que llegar a acuerdos. Hablar. Exponer las necesidades de las partes. Acordar en equipo. Delegar. Confiar en la profesionalidad y experiencia de cada persona del equipo. Comunicación fluida y transparencia en todos los sentidos posibles. No hace falta mas. Funciona. Pero para eso debes liderar. Personas profesionalmente mediocres, sin preparación, sin empatía no pueden liderar así.

One thing they don't teach you explicitly is that delegating to your team and not being involved in every detail may cause bumps along the way. Your team needs to make mistakes and learn from them to grow into their new skills. You have to remain hands off and let them learn when they fall down. You can be there to give them feedback and helpful nudges but it may feel uncomfortable or new to you as a leader if you haven't done this before.

I agree, however practically speaking, some executives/managers find it unnatural to let go of control and authority. They feel the need to have people around them know who the ‘boss’ is, however what they fail to acknowledge is that what they are actually doing is taking productive time away from their employees. Well, let’s address the productive time dilemma also. Without proper executive involvement, communication of goals and objectives, and direction, people can hardly be productive. So delegation, and empowerment are keys to having a healthy culture, happy and involved employees, and goal driven organization.

Release work streams to those better positioned to deal to them. If you want to go faster go by yourself, if you want to go further go as a team.

Establish a framework and set clear expectations for yourself and those you work with. Then allow employee creativity and engagement facilitate results. Allow them to explore their capabilities and appreciate their contributions. Manage your own expectations to achieve balance and allow the free flow of ideas.

The thing I found really helpful was setting clear boundaries. No taking work call 3 hours post work time. Also no talking about work at home. This applies to both me and my team. It's like you switch off completely while at home or vice versa. Weekdays are for work and weekend is your personal space. It is also not about maintaining a balance. It is about smoothening the imbalance. Accept the imbalance and identify critical contributors. That way we can smoothen the imbalance.

An important part of setting boundaries and demonstrating this to your team is to minimize your off-hours communications. If you, as the leader who sets the tone, are sending streams of emails or Teams messages at all hours, on weekends, over holidays, etc then your team will assume this is what you expect from them in return. This will cause them to try to match your actions which likely will have significant impacts on their own work-life balance. Try to hold those emails or messages for normal work hours. Also keep an eye on your team and if you see someone consistently working off hours then reach out to them. Find out what challenges they are having. Be open and empathetic. Remind them of your expectations.

Leading by example first, with good work life balance habits. As this is the cornerstone of each good team habits, would come next the Agile effort investment management : sometimes you need to invest more in personal life, and sometimes more in work. As they are both tightly linked and almost mutually dependent, one must know when and how to give proper attention and more time to each. That's what sets apart successful people from others.

Setting boundaries and priorities is a good idea combined with the use of technologies that help the team to resolve repetitive tasks easier and faster, so the team will not spend time doing "low-added value" activities. Prioritizing should be aligned to the strategic plan of the company, KPIs, and personal goals of each team member.

Communication at all hours represents lack of organization. Effective leadership, effective management, and effective communication should never require repeated communication at all hours. Either we have the wrong person in the management role or we have the wrong people in individual roles. I address that issue by using assessment tools to ensure that we are hiring the right people in the first place.

Planning and scheduling is a valuable commodity. I have tried many systems calendaring, day planners, and digital. I have found that using the electronic calendar (I prefer Teams) works best for me due to always having my phone near. I plan my day and week, but also schedule "Focus Time" to allow for some flex time when events run long. Set expectations and boundaries, do not be afraid to excuse yourself from a scheduled activity if it runs long. Search out a system that works for you and your lifestyle - one size does not fit all.

Every time you take time off, the work is still there!! I empathize with my team everyday that Health and Family come before anything else. They will have time off planned each quarter and I put it on my calendar along with my field support partners. This will ensure we are not adding to any stress while they’re out but also know how to support where needed. Setting clear and defined goals, processes and behaviors will allow for better time off, as it will create a more confident disconnect. Also setting clear expectations about working hours and working days. What is an urgent priority that warrants a call and what is important but can wait. It all starts with communicating with the team.

Planning and scheduling taking into consideration best and worst case scenarios is highly recommended. The worst thing to do when planning is to assume everything will be risk-free. There needs to be time allocated on any project to known and unknown risks. By mitigating during our planning, we are ensuring realistic timelines and better work-life balance.

1. Create a daily schedule 2. Create a weekly schedule 3. Keep your to-do’s in sight 4. Divide your time and conquer your tasks 5. Set business hours and stick to them 6. Colour-code your calendar from hot to cold 7. Give yourself incentives 8. Set aside certain days every week for certain tasks

That is another strategic tool for the executive to learn and master. In many cases executives have duties like giving an interview or meeting an important customers that need many of his team members preparation ahead. In order to avoid putting the team under severe pressure use the technique called Timeboxing. You plug in your calendar a week or may be a month ahead important appointments or tasks that need preparation from you and your team members. Timeboxing serves as well as an optimiser of your daily activities.

It is very important to spare time on daily or every two days to sit with your team and make sure that they are aligned on the business goals. It is also important that you coach your team on solving problems that hinder progress as soon as they can. Coach your team as well on being open to collaborate and discuss challenges openly to learn from others experiences.

Collaboration amongst team members even with a leader is very important. Sharing perspectives and better ways to improve “The way we work” is key to success.

1. Clarity is key. Ambiguity and confusion is goin to minimize productivity. 2. Set boundaries on work and personal time. Never blur that line for your team. 3. Support their wellness and encourage flexibility on work. You will see them trying their best in return. 4. Open communication. Foster clear communication, offer support wherever required and discuss expectations both ways. 5. Lead by example. Always display behaviour that you expect of your team.

In order to achieve your goals in the long term, you should have good time management. This also includes involving team members from the outset and assigning tasks. Intensive and open communication is very important so that tasks can be accomplished together. This creates a pleasant working atmosphere at eye level and promotes team cohesion. This communication is based on reliability and generates trust. This takes the pressure off the employees and you also have more time for your own interests, both professionally and privately.

Ongoing communication is key. Reporting is a good way of communicating and keeping everyone informed. There are different ways to embrace communication and collaboration, such as: - weekly meetings - planning meetings - weekly reports to give visibility on scope, timelines, risks, quality and budget. - brainstorming sessions are also a great way to collaborate and align our team on clear next steps and expectations

I'm a big believer in Kaizen. You should strive to be better every single day. You can do this by setting goals for yourself each day and week. Start with small goals to read a business book, meet with someone to build a skill you don't have, or ask your boss and team for a project that stretches you. The point is make a conscious effort to build that leveling up time into your weekly work. If you make it a priority, it will become a habit and lead to big results over time.

I let this come to light more than ever in 2023. I looked at development programs, classes and certificates that allowed me to become a better leader for my team as well as myself. There are so many free and paid personal and professional training resources out there and we are the only one keeping ourselves from taking on those opportunities. I looked to strive for better business acumen, my current company offered paid classes as a benefit. I took advantage of all four certificates. LinkedIn offers so many certificates that’s allow you to show your level of expertise or even grow upon it. I also connect with industry leaders and enjoying seeing their journey and input with posts, comments and trainings.

In today's rapidly changing world, continuous learning is crucial for executives. The fast pace of technological advancements and the globalized business environment demand constant skill updates. Fortunately, technology provides access to a wealth of global knowledge, making learning more accessible and diverse. From online courses to podcasts, learning tools are varied, offering personalized experiences. Embracing continuous learning is key for leaders to stay relevant and successfully navigate the complexities of the modern market.

Continuous learning is crucial for executives. It involves seeking feedback to gauge performance, identifying strengths, and recognizing areas needing improvement. Reflecting on this feedback is essential for personal and professional growth. Executives should also constantly update their knowledge and skills to stay relevant in the ever-evolving business landscape. Engaging with diverse resources like books, podcasts, and courses, and seeking guidance from mentors and coaches can provide fresh perspectives and strategies. This commitment to learning not only enhances competence and confidence but also ensures adaptability in changing environments, making it a key aspect of effective leadership.

I have become an advocate for having a career coach. Someone who you can bounce ideas off of, who can provide thoughtful feedback, and someone with experience beyond what you and your team are usually focused upon so I don't get tunnel vision.

Above all, family comes first. Take a step back and value and embrace your time spent with family. In order to get this time, make sure you perform, organise and build a healthy team that you can count on. It takes time, but the result will come.

One thing I've found helpful, give your health and personal life first priority to show that you have a balanced approach. Motivate your group to follow suit. Encourage a culture of empathy and adaptability so that team members can efficiently manage their time. Encourage self-care and dissuade from working too much extra. To avoid burnout, regularly evaluate workloads and modify expectations. Also, appreciate the value of both work and life outside the office and celebrate accomplishments.

Leadership is about understanding people, both yourself and those you work with. Be sensitive to the connection and interactions of work and home and always strive for balance because it's easy to have one overtake the other. Build confident and competent teams who espouse trust in you and each other because once this is achieved, balance will be easier to achieve for you and your teams.

Lead by example - it starts with you! Demonstrate the importance of work-life balance by prioritizing your own well-being and encouraging your team to do the same. Leading by example fosters a healthy work culture and promotes employee morale.

Prioritize tasks, delegate responsibilities, and set clear expectations to manage your team efficiently. Establish realistic goals and deadlines to prevent burnout. Encourage open communication and be supportive of your team's work-life balance, leading by example. Utilize technology for effective communication and task management. Regularly assess workloads and adjust responsibilities as needed. Delegate effectively, trust your team, and recognize the importance of taking breaks to maintain your own work-life balance as an executive.