Disrupted work-life balance is one of the major factors for the Great Resignation. As the need for work from home and prioritizing physical health arose from the pandemic, workers worldwide realized what they had been missing. A 2021 survey suggests that 78% of workers prefer the flexibility of working from home and a hybrid work culture over going to work. The time employees save during commute and getting ready when working from home contributes greatly to shaping this preference.
However, managers can promote a work-life balance even if their team members come in daily. If you’re a manager looking to ease your workers’ lives, here are some tips that might prove helpful:
Stop Micromanaging
Managers with the habit of micromanaging can make life difficult for their employees. While you might have certain methods you may find more effective, your team members’ productivity depends on how comfortable they feel at work. If you keep micromanaging them, they will doubt everything they do, and it will take them more time to accomplish each task. Micromanagement also results in unnecessary revisions and repetitive tasks that wastes time and energy. Therefore, you must trust your team members’ abilities and allow them to manage their schedule and tasks as they see fit to improve their work-life balance.
Focus on Work and Not Hours
As a manager, you should only be concerned with achieving the expected output. If your team consists of fast and efficient employees, allow them to enjoy the free time their efficiency earns them. It is natural for employees to become efficient at their work on time. Let them enjoy the fruit of their hard work and use it for a better work-life balance.
If you try to keep them engaged every minute you’re paying them for, they might be tempted to find an employer who appreciates their efficiency. Avoid over-burdening the efficient employee as it might result in them deliberately delaying work.
Check-in Regularly
Check in with your team members to see if they’re getting the time to enjoy their after-work hours. If a team member is suddenly burdened with additional responsibility or tackling an emergency, allow them paid time off and greater flexibility over their work to make the best of their situation and maintain a work-life balance in all situations. Frequent check-ins will also improve communication between your team, resulting in more efficient work output.
Acknowledge Employees’ Strengths
Acknowledging employees’ strengths encourages them to practice them more at work. This can result in a positive workplace culture where employees feel more comfortable sharing their work-life balance issues and finding solutions to maintain the same. For example, appreciating an employee’s sense of humor can result in enhanced communication between team members and a more collaborative environment. It can lead to a work environment where employees don’t feel pressured and enjoy a healthy work-life balance.
Be a Role Model
Encouraging work-life balance among employees begins with practicing it yourself. If you keep bugging your employees after work hours, you can make it impossible for them to enjoy a work-life balance. Hence, it is best to apply a no-shop-talk policy once the clock strikes five and discourage overtime.
A healthy work-life balance is essential to maintain employee motivation and productivity in the long run. Employees are also more likely to stay with your organization if they don’t feel they have to sacrifice their lives for work.
