Everybody agrees that work-life balance is extremely important, yet this topic does not get enough traction. Entrepreneurs particularly are known for the 100-hour weeks, constant meetings, and endless deals. It is even more tasking to achieve a balance when you run a large corporation that employs lots of people. Connor Miller, however, proves to be the exception. He is the co-founder of ArdentX, one of America’s largest logistics companies. Running a successful business on that scale requires that Connor takes several measures to ensure that his employees are not only productive but also living balanced lives.
Below, are some of the key steps that Connor Miller takes to encourage his employees to achieve a better balance between work and life;
Outside-office Activities
“I think the number one cause for poor work-life balance is bad management teams that don’t understand the importance of employees having a life outside of work,” Connor Miller states.
Employees who have other hobbies and activities outside work are more likely to be productive than those who only come to work and go back home every day. Having diversified interests makes life more interesting. This will, in turn, tell greatly on employee motivation at work. The best companies in the world are the ones who to only encourage but also accommodate employee interests.
“Consider setting up activities and events outside office hours to find out what your employees like to do. These could be casual hangouts or they could be organized around specific interests like sports. By encouraging employees to explore their interests outside work, you are investing in their self-development and helping them become more rounded.”
Reward and Recognition (R&R)
When employees go unrecognized and uncompensated for the quality of their work, they are more likely to be overworked. Connor Miller explains this further;
“A lot of times, your employees will have higher expenses. Maybe there’s a new baby or they just bought a house or a new car. Things like this are pretty expensive, but salaries don’t always increase to match that. Employees will always attempt to do extra work with the hopes of being noticed and receiving more compensation.”
This can be easily fixed by having a structured Reward and Recognition system. High-flying employees should be identified and rewarded accordingly for their work. Teams should also be organized with this in mind.
Conclusion
Work-life balance is an ongoing subject where no hard and fast rules apply. Management teams must continue to explore and experiment with new ways to encourage employees to live better balanced lives. This is what Connor continues to apply in his own business.
“Work-life balance will be different for each individual. I believe work-life balance has everything to do with what makes the individual happy. I have set schedules and don’t ever make employees work overtime without compensation. I encourage people to take vacations and rarely say no when employees need time off. Sometimes I let people work from home when circumstances warrant.”
