Today, globalisation and technology have significantly increased our work pressures, blurring the lines between time on and off the job. Being accessible has become synonymous with being successful. But can we effectively integrate our work and personal lives in a way that enables a more meaningful and engaging existence?
This was the topic of debate at a recent breakfast and panel discussion held at Deloitte Cape Town offices. Successful business women including Deloitte Directors Anthea Scholtz, Vanessa Borchers and Nina le Riche, as well as ORT SA CAPE Director Dr Lydia Abel, and Seed Academy CEO Lara Rosmarin, shared their life experiences and offered practical tips to help members achieve better balance in their lives.
While each panel member had a different experience to share, key take outs from the day included the following tips:
Tip 1: Be authentic
Be true to yourself by understanding what makes you happy. Your authenticity will ensure you are self-fulfilled by keeping your head on your shoulders and feet firmly on the ground.
Tip 2: Stop wasting time
Time management is essential. Assess whether less time can be spent on an activity or if it can be delegated to another person or group.
Tip 3: Work smart, not less
Flexibility in the work place is an arrangement built on communication, trust and mutual respect between employees and management.
Tip 4: Look after yourself and your home
Ensure that you have the right support structure in place at home so that you not only have the time to be present at home, but also to look after yourself.
Vanessa Borchers used an analogy which really encapsulated this: Each day, we are all juggling five balls in the air — work, family, health, and integrity — and you’re keeping all of these in the air. Work is a rubber ball — if you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls are made of glass. If you drop any one of these, they will break!
This partnership between Deloitte and the Jewish community headed up by Ryan Dogon, provides a platform for business owners and ORT JET mentors to connect with industry experts.
For more information contact Lisa Sandler: lisa@ortjet.org.za
