Work-Life Presence: Time to Get Grounded

​In the 1970s we talked about Work-Life Separation, in the 1990s it was Work-Life Balance, and by 2010 we called it Work-Life Integration. Despite all this juggling and integrating, we still feel the pull between these competing commitments in our lives. And we’re tired!

​Some of us may even pay a premium for three days at an exclusive resort where we are forced to unplug and—gasp—live without cell phone coverage and WiFi! There’s even a term for it now, “Digital Detox!” To many, Work-Life Integration has come to mean never shutting down—being available 24/7. So, what’s next?

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The Healthy Leader
This month’s CBODN Book Club discussion featured a discussion of the book Grounded by Bob Rosen. Rosen developed a model for “The Healthy Leader,” with six dimensions of health: physical, emotional, intellectual, social, vocational, and spiritual. When leaders focus on these six dimensions, organizational productivity increases. Translating the business speak, in order to bring your best self to work (i.e., vocational), you also need to be healthy in other domains such as spiritual, social, or intellectual. This leaves me with a couple questions:
What’s next after Work-Life Integration? And how does a workplace support a leader who wants to be healthy?
 
Work-Life Presence Mindset
The notion I have landed on is Work-Life Presence. Instead of focusing on the “doing” part (i.e., “Do I continue working on this urgent task, or stop so I can attend my son’s soccer game?”) which addresses the surface/symptoms, presence is the “being” part. It’s deep down. Presence is about how you want to show up. Ask yourself:

• What expectations do I have for myself?
• What expectations do others have of me?
• What’s my criteria to say ‘yes’ to a commitment? 

Your answers will define your ideal Work-Life Presence. A Work-Life Presence mindset takes a look at patterns and challenges that are consistent through all domains. Instead of addressing each domain independently, bring your worlds together. Look across the domains and address the core issues—to find lasting solutions.
 
What do you think? Is Work-Life presence the next step in our evolution? If so, what would that look like for you? What would be different?

Work / Life Evolution Timeline

1970s – This decade saw women entering the workplace and a focus on separating work and home. We talked about “having both,” meaning being successful at home and at work; however, there was emphasis on keeping these domains very separated. In other words, leave your work at work.
 
1990s – By this decade, we were saying, “Ok, so maybe we can’t do it all! We need BALANCE!” Progressive workplaces offered benefits such as free counseling sessions and discounted weight-loss programs.
 
2005s – The conversation evolved, and the focus on balance shifted toward a focus on integration. For example, you can join a boot camp at work and get exercise while talking about client work with a colleague. You can work from home two days a week, etc.
 
2015ish – In recent years, we have realized that “integration” means we never shut down or end the workday. Social lines are blurred; our colleagues follow us on social media. Our phones are never more than 12 inches away from our bodies, and in addition we take calls on our watches. ​

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