Comments

So is he saying that Balance is good or bad? What context does Mr. Wood place his Balance in?

There are only 2 things that can happen when people like their jobs less:
1. Find new jobs
2. Make their current jobs better

To be honest I have never had a job where I liked it 100%. That might be my personality. What I do attempt to do is make my job as close to 100% likable as possible. I like companies that give their employees the abilities to make there jobs reach the 100% level. If not then they are asking their employees to find other jobs.

Posted by Chris Woodruff at December 8, 2004 10:32 AM

I agree that the quote's message is ultimately unclear, unless of course that he is arguing in favor of people disliking their jobs. Balance, to be sure, is an important thing, and probably increases productivity in the long run, but a company full of people who constantly wish they were someone else doesn't sound very effective to me. Now, I doubt there are many jobs that will ever be 100% likable, but that quote seems like it is either a rationalization for poor morale or it's a meaningless statement. Yes, they focus on balance. So what?

Posted by Christiana Ellis at December 8, 2004 10:56 AM

Sounds like a comment from a software company exec.
"Pam isn't working over 80 hours a week so she can spend time with her family and give time to non-profit organizations. She must not like her job. If she liked her job she would be here around the clock, do whatever unreasonable thing we asked of her and do even things we don't ask out of fear for losing her wonderful job."
Isn't the alternative to balanced employees, unbalanced employees? Why is that a good thing?

Posted by Kirk Samuels at December 8, 2004 11:06 AM

I interpreted the statement to mean that the more people like/love their jobs, the more passion they feel about their work, the less they worry about balance (be it work/life or w/i the workplace) because they are too inspired to focus on whether there is balance. There is fulfillment and electricity which is ultimately more sought after than balance (for most, in my opinion).

Posted by Heather Dougherty at December 8, 2004 11:16 AM

I disagree. Those who love their jobs, will have a better balance in life, then those who dont. Why, b'coz passion in your work fosters a balance within oneselve, and thereby raditaing that balance outwards.. thus sustaining harmony within the work ethos !!

Posted by /pd at December 8, 2004 11:39 AM

Best quote I've read in months! Thanks Tom. It's going directly into my speech this Friday. Why? Because balance in ones place of work is all about politics. Don't rock the boat. Be a good little sycophant!

People who love their "work" are inspired by the potential that their "work" can have on the organization and the world. Damn who may torpedo me! Full speed ahead!

Posted by Tom Asacker at December 8, 2004 12:37 PM

Serenity now as they said on Seinfeld - if you have peace and serenity within - then career and lifestyle come easily - easy health and wealth ...

Posted by Freeman at December 8, 2004 1:27 PM

So is Mr. Wood saying that the people that like their jobs less will take energy from the job (even if they are meeting high expectations) and put it into something else like family, charity, exercise? Sounds like a cope out to say that workers should be putting all their energy into work and letting all other facets of their lives suffer. Typical old fashion management thinking!

Posted by Chris Woodruff at December 8, 2004 1:46 PM

Reverse the clauses and re-read:

"The more they focus on balance, the less people like their jobs."

Also, note that the guy is an EX-Microsoftie.

I don't think he's advocating 80 hour work weeks. What he seems to be implying is that when you eventually discover a passion or have a focus outside of your job, you never look at the job in the same light again.

Also, is self-employment a job? I find self-employment to be very conducive to "balance" and at the same time very satisfying and fulfilling.

Posted by MarkN at December 8, 2004 2:26 PM

MarkN : what if your hobby is your job ..what more can one ask for eh ?? its neither self employment nor does it fall into the regular job catogory.. I dunna what this type is called.. as I am one of em creatures.. whose hobby is thier work.. !!

Posted by /pd at December 8, 2004 3:01 PM

Think about it from the opposite direction: "The less people like their families, the more they focus on work."

Posted by Paul at December 8, 2004 5:29 PM

The first thing I thought of when I read this quote is: Where's my issue of Worthwhile? Still waiting to receive it.

There seems to be a proliferation of material these days on re-thinking the work-life balance issue. The new thinking tends to hover around the notion that it doesn't exist, so make sure you are spending time on what you want to do.

HR departments will have to re-think their retention strategies; it's not (only) about flextime and on-site yoga. They have to figure out how to construct jobs that engage people and still move the company forward.

I have a theory, though I have yet prove it: companies become greater financially and otherwise, by tapping into the wells of energy their employees are saving for their best, most meaningful work.

The key will be to make that connection for employees, to tell the right story to help employees make that connection.

If people loved their jobs, work-life balance wouldn't be an issue...wait, isn't that what the guy at Microsoft just said?

Posted by Jory Des Jardins at December 8, 2004 6:14 PM

Jory Des Jardins :Does your theory permit the employee to have a say in this theory ??

Posted by /pd at December 8, 2004 8:26 PM

The less people like their jobs, the more they focus on balance, sports, romance, office politics, crossword puzzles, mindless television dramas, online chat rooms, etc. etc. It doesn't exactly take a genius to figure out that people who are in the wrong job think about other things. If you like what you do, your natural balance shifts on its own toward the work that motivates you. If you hate your work and don't have another source of satisfaction (balance), then you're probably going to be a candidate for some serious psychological work. Seems pretty straightforward to me.

Posted by Tom C. at December 8, 2004 10:46 PM

Work/life balance...it seems pretty simple to me.If you have a real passion for you work and if your work has significant meaning then there's no issue of work life balance because your work is your life.Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr,Jesus...Us?Why not.....

Posted by fredd at December 9, 2004 3:55 AM

its probably true the other way round.

People who look for balance are't satisfied with thier jobs.

Incidently there was a comment in wired saying that as our wealth has increaced our hapiness has declined

http://www.wired.com/news/wiredmag/1,2167,65941,00.html?tw=rss.TOP

Posted by paul grew at December 9, 2004 4:59 AM

Tell that to a two and eight year-old who can't wait to see you.

Posted by todd at December 9, 2004 6:04 PM

Todd has a great point - a lack of balance in our lives just ends up screwing up the next generation. If that isn't a definition of short termism I don't know what is!

Posted by PH at December 10, 2004 9:23 AM

Very male thing to say ;) (The original quote, not the previous comment)

Personally, I don't want to stay home with kids because I can't imagine having a job I don't love. So I agree in a way. But I'm lucky in that I have a partner who is far more maternal than I am - most women don't have a partner who will pick up the slack domestically, and therefore balance isn't just something they whinge on about because they don't like their jobs, it's a necessity for most women with kids or even a house bigger than 1-br!

Posted by Mary-Ann Horley at December 11, 2004 8:46 AM

The quote seems extremely simple to me:
If you like the job ur doing - U just continue to do just that !! ...and if u dont like ur job (whatever it may be...) u will look for "balancing" it with many other things outside of ur job ....what say people :))
Bugs.

Posted by Bhargava Hukunda (Bugs0 at December 15, 2004 11:13 AM