Is Work-Life Balance Becoming the New Definition of Success?

If you already knew what it took to achieve success in the professional world, it would be a combination of a high position, more money, a corner office, and a longer workday. Especially in the modern business world, that formula is being put to the test. 

Balancing the work-life aspect has not just become a workplace benefit; but is more of a yardstick for personal and professional success. In addition to income and career advancement, the importance of time autonomy, mental and physical health and meaningful relationships are being discussed.

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End of Hustle Culture?

Once it was thought that working 70 hours a week meant that you must have worked hard. That’s an equation that’s looking increasingly ‘outdated’ these days. Reliance on constant availability as an indicator of commitment has left us all with a new awareness of the circumstances that can lead to burn-out, chronic stress and work fatigue.

The other alternative that’s beginning to come into vogue is not laziness. It is sustainability. Professionals are looking increasingly at the jobs that enable them to perform at full capacity, but that are not jobs that are ‘all or nothing’.

Why Has Flexibility Become Valuable?

It’s still the factors of salary that remain relevant, but so is compensation not salary. Having flexibility in their schedule, flexible or remote work environment, personal time as well as boundaries can have a tremendous amount of value to employees in their career decision of where they choose to invest their time in their career.

Some professionals value their flexibility more than they can value a promotion that requires them to work more and make personal sacrifices. That’s a shift in the rules, in how people think about career growth as going up but it’s going to influence people’s thinking about how they will spend their time in their job.

Gen Z and Millennials Are Challenging the Old Playbook

That’s being hastened by younger workers. Gen Z and Millennials entering the workplace with expectations different from purpose, trust, being understood, tenure, and psychological safety.

They aren’t as concerned with showing commitment with visibility and are more interested in showing results. The question of ‘How Many Hours’ is now becoming ‘What was Achieved’?

Businesses Are Learning the Same Lesson

Well-being is becoming more than an employee benefit to employers, too. Substantial organizational costs can be caused by high turnover, absenteeism, disengagement, and burnout.

Many companies are looking at outcome based measures, hybrid working, flexible schedules and even 4-day working week pilots. The goal continues to be to develop systems that can allow for both productivity and sustainable working practices.