Credit Management April 2024 issue

CAREERS
THE ART OF
EQUILIBRIUM
Five ways to strike a positive work-life balance.
BY NATASCHA WHITEHEAD
THE question of how to achieve and maintain
a good work-life balance is a difficult one,
and the pressure to be successful in our
credit careers can often overshadow the
importance of switching off. In this month’s
article, I weigh in on why work-life balance
is so important and the ways you can strike a
healthy balance between your personal and professional life.
1. Shift your perspective
Some people have a preconception that prioritising worklife
balance means being less dedicated to your professional
responsibilities, and that neglecting a work-life balance facilitates
greater success in your job. However, I’d argue that the opposite
is true. If you work incredibly long hours and don’t get enough
rest or down time, you put yourself at greater risk of stress and
burnout which is bound to have a negative impact on your ability
to carry out your role efficiently.
It’s important to acknowledge that you can be passionate about
your job and still switch off in your own time without feeling guilty.
Alter your mindset so you see achieving a work-life balance as an
important way to improve productivity and engagement. Rather
than seeing ‘work-life balance’ as a buzzword for wellbeing, we
should take into account the vast benefits of dedicating time and
energy to both our professional and personal lives.
2. Master important skills
Brushing up on certain soft skills is a sure way to help achieve
a work-life balance. Firstly, time management is imperative for
credit professionals to juggle their workload, as well as the ability
to identify clear priorities and plan your day around this. Being
organised means you’re less likely to feel overwhelmed and let
work commitments take priority.
Communication is another crucial core skill which can lay the
foundation for a healthy work-life balance; understanding what
is urgent, managing expectations and being clear about your
capacity make it easier to differentiate between your professional
and personal time.
3. Strive for progress, not
perfection
Be mindful that having a positive work-life balance all the time
is arguably unattainable and will vary depending on how much
you have on your plate in your role and in your home life. To
set yourself up for a permanently perfect work-life balance can
result in unnecessary stress, as the demands of our careers and
personal lives inevitably fluctuate. For example, a tight deadline
could result in the scales tipping towards work, but that’s fine
as long as you have a pattern that allows you to manage your
responsibilities for the majority of the time. Plus, a healthy worklife
balance will look different for everyone so avoid comparing
your habits to anyone else’s.
4. Adjust your working habits
Bring attuned to factors such as what times of day you are most
productive is important for improving your work-life balance.
Knowing your working habits will help you plan what tasks to
do when and ultimately be able to achieve your goals for the day.
Depending on your organisation’s flexible working offering, you
could work the hours that suit you and that enable you to balance
your personal and professional commitments.
Another factor to take into consideration is where you work
most efficiently, whether that’s based in the office or remotely.
Hopefully your employer will accommodate your individual
preferences to support you to be as productive as possible and
to bring your best self to work. According to our 2024 Salary
and Recruiting Trends guide, the majority (60 percent) of credit
professions say they work most productively from home, whilst
less than a third (31 percent) say they work best in the office.
5. Implement boundaries
To bolster your work-life balance and protect your wellbeing, it’s
crucial to have healthy boundaries in place. Whilst boundaries
will look different for everyone, they could involve learning how
to say no to extra work in a diplomatic way. You might be worried
that if you turn down additional projects for example, you could
be perceived as lacking determination, but by focusing on the
work that is essential to you, you’re more likely to produce high
quality outcomes, be happier and healthier and keep your worklife
balance intact.
Another notable boundary, particularly in our digital age, is not
answering work related emails or calls outside of your set hours.
If you prioritise your personal time and keep it separate from
your professional responsibilities, you will be in a better position
to give your time and energy to your role when it’s most necessary
within your working hours.
Author: Natascha Whitehead is Senior Business Director at Hays
specialising in Credit Management.
Brave | Curious | Resilient / www.cicm.com / April 2024 / PAGE 24