How to help your team achieve great work-life balance

Do you struggle to really switch off from work? You’re not alone. Digital technology, remote work, global teams in different time zones – they’ve all created new opportunities, but also new challenges. In today’s fast-paced, ever-evolving work landscape, the boundaries between our professional and personal lives have become increasingly blurred. For many employees, the struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance is real and persistent. Companies that actively support their teams in finding this balance attract and retain better talent, foster great engagement and see better productivity.

But what does that really mean?

As a business owner, it’s about more than wellness seminars or the occasional work from home day. True support is embedded in all aspects of your company’s culture, policies and your approach as leader.

What are the downsides of poor work-life balance?

Burn out, overwhelm, stress, anxiety, illness – which in turn reduce productivity, increase absence rates and result in increased staff turnover. If you’re losing burnt out team members, you have the cost and stress of finding and training replacements, not to mention the associated reputational risks of running a workplace that doesn’t value mental health.

How can I get work-life balance right for my team?

When businesses champion work-life balance, they create a culture where people can thrive, both professionally and personally. Here are some key strategies you can employ:

·      Embrace flexibility – Empower your team to start and end their workday at times that match their productivity, whether they are an early bird or a night owl. Eliminate commuting stress, support family commitments and encourage time for exercise by offering remote or hybrid work options. Offer job share or part time options where you can, reducing hours or sharing responsibilities across your team.

·      Set clear expectations – Establish clear guidelines around working hours and availability. Discourage after-hours emails and calls. Ensure your senior leaders are modelling the same behaviour you would like your employees to have.

·      Judge your employees on their output and achievements rather than the time they spend at their desk. This allows them to be more creative, autonomous and productive.

·      Show that you value employees’ health by tailoring your wellness offer using programmes such as mental health support, stress management, resilience workshops, subsidised gym classes, ergonomic work stations and healthy catering options. Make sure you check-in regularly with your team to establish what works best for them.

·      Make sure everyone is taking all of their contracted time off and their workloads are managed in their absence.

·      Support families to balance their work and care obligations. Your business could help by offering on-site childcare or partnerships with local providers, creating family-friendly policies and offering flexible leave for those caring for family members.

·      Use technology with purpose – avoid the feeling of needing to be constantly connected by setting rules to stop digital overload. Try no-meeting days, scheduled focus time and guidelines for after-hours communication

Lead by example

Your leadership sets the tone for the whole of your business. If you are modelling a healthy work-life balance, it signals to everyone else that wellbeing is a shared value, not just a slogan. Take your breaks, use your leave, respect your team’s downtime and you will succeed in creating a culture where everyone feels they have permission to do the same.

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