www.awis.org
Improving Work-Life Satisfaction
Mikel “Micky” HolcombPhysics Department, WVU
Mother of 2 kids (Age 5 and 7)Funded by NSF, DOE, ACS
(Based on materials from a partnership between AWIS & the Elsevier Foundation)
www.awis.org
Improving Work-Life Satisfaction
Mikel “Micky” HolcombPhysics Department, WVU
Mother of 2 kids (Age 5 and 7)Funded by NSF, DOE, ACS
(Based on materials from a partnership between AWIS & the Elsevier Foundation)
“GroundRules” &Housekeeping
“Absorb what is useful, reject what is useless, add what is specifically
your own”Bruce Lee
• Respecteachother• Silenceandputawaycellphones
• Maintainconfidentiality
www.awis.org
“What makes work-life
satisfaction so challenging?”
Personal Work Personal Work
Work-Life balance goals will fluctuate throughout your life, throughout the year
and sometimes throughout the day!
When both hit simultaneously, need coping strategies!
DefiningSatisfactionItisdifferentforeveryperson.
• Variesovertime• Notjustaboutwomen• Notjustaboutchildren/parents• Findingtimeforlifeoutsideofwork(rafting)• Tensionbetweendemands(teachingvs research)• Makingchoicesthatmatchyourvaluesandpriorities(ex.Youvalueteaching,butnotrewardedforitORopposite)
Work-LifeSatisfaction
begins with awareness:
Your situation and the systems in which you live and work
Resources available to you
Your strengths and weaknesses
Your values/priorities
Your current level of work-lifesatisfaction and
your work-life challengesWhat is satisfaction to
you?Not always easy to identify the answer
EXERCISE:80th Birthday Tribute
ParticipantDebrief
Whatarethevaluesand
prioritiesthataremost
meaningfultoyou,as
evidencedbyyourtoast?
Work-LifeSatisfaction
begins with awareness:
Your situation and the systems in which you live and work
Resources available to you
Your strengths and weaknesses
Your values/priorities
Your current level of work-lifesatisfaction and
your work-life challenges
Cultivate astrong
support system
Rechargeyour
batteriesExercise your
NO!
Plan and prioritize
Shift your mindset(“mental
toughness”)
Ask for whatyou wantand need
Establishguilt-free
boundaries
Work-LifeSatisfaction
begins with awareness:
Your situation and the systems in which you live and work
Resources available to you
Your strengths and weaknesses
Your values/priorities
Your current level of work-lifesatisfaction and
your work-life challenges
Cultivate astrong
support system
Whodoyouaskforadvice?Topicsmightinclude:
ClassesResearch
CareerPlanningService
MostPeopleDon’tAskforHelpfromEnoughPeople!
• FriendsandFamily• OnlineResources• HousecleaningorNeighborhoodTeenagers• SelfAnalysis• Networking• Mentoring• Peers
Whoaretwopeopleyoucouldaddtoyoursupportsystem?
What are important qualities in a mentor?
What are important qualities in a mentor?
What are important qualities in a mentee?
The Role of a Mentee
• Seek advice, not a supervisor who directs actions.• Synthesize lessons learned from many mentors –
become your own person.• Come prepared (what do you want, strengths,
weaknesses)
Example: Public Speaking
Follow Nike’s advice.
How do you ask someone to mentor you?
What’s the worst they can say?
Work-LifeSatisfaction
begins with awareness:
Your situation and the systems in which you live and work
Resources available to you
Your strengths and weaknesses
Your values/priorities
Your current level of work-lifesatisfaction and
your work-life challenges
Cultivate astrong
support system
Ask for whatyou wantand need
Why is this difficult?
WhatYouNeed:Discussion/Activity
• Hasanyoneaskedforsomethingtheyneedrecently?Wishyouhad?
• Framingisimportant:Ifyouprovidemewiththisresource,Ican….– ThesearethegreatthingsIwilldowiththatresource
• Howdoesitbenefittheorganization:relatemission,strategicplanofuniversity,college,department
• Deliverables?
Work-LifeSatisfaction
begins with awareness:
Your situation and the systems in which you live and work
Resources available to you
Your strengths and weaknesses
Your values/priorities
Your current level of work-lifesatisfaction and
your work-life challenges
Cultivate astrong
support system
Plan and prioritize
Ask for whatyou wantand need
Priorities/ValuesHolding our deeply
held values and priorities in our consciousness
provides a “compass” for
making important decisions.
YourWeeklyPlanningMeeting
Determinewhatmust bedoneeach
weekandeachday
Chooseyouractionsbasedonyourplan
Weekly,review,reflect,celebrate
successesandplanforthecomingweek
Should align with personal
and professional priorities and
goals
Leave time open for
unexpected “urgent and important”
issues
Remember the goal isn’t
PERFECTION
MakeaScheduleDoesitalignwithhowyouareranked?
The more specific your tasks can be, the better!
Work-LifeSatisfaction
begins with awareness:
Your situation and the systems in which you live and work
Resources available to you
Your strengths and weaknesses
Your values/priorities
Your current level of work-lifesatisfaction and
your work-life challenges
Cultivate astrong
support system
Exercise your NO!
Plan and prioritize
Ask for whatyou wantand need
5QuestionstoAskWhenYouAreConsideringSayingYes:
1.MustthisbeDONE?
(Whosays?)
5QuestionstoAskWhenYouAreConsideringSayingYes:
2. MustthisbedoneBYME?
(Ifnotme,thenwho?)
Onlyifitappliestoallthree
5QuestionstoAskWhenYouAreConsideringSayingYes:
3. MustthisbedoneRIGHT
NOW?
5QuestionstoAskWhenYouAreConsideringSayingYes:
4.MustthisbedoneTHISWAY?
(Why?)
5QuestionstoAskWhenYouAreConsideringSayingYes:
5. IfIsayyestothis,whatamIsayingnoto?
SayNO bysayingYES:
“Here’swhatIcan do…”fromJudyFeld,AWIScoach
Exerciseyour“No”Discussion/Activity
• Thinkofsomethingyouhavebeenaskedtodorecently(ex:chairacommittee,organizeameeting)andaskyourselfthese5Questions(usehandout)
Work-LifeSatisfaction
begins with awareness:
Your situation and the systems in which you live and work
Resources available to you
Your strengths and weaknesses
Your values/priorities
Your current level of work-lifesatisfaction and
your work-life challenges
Cultivate astrong
support system
Exercise your NO!
Plan and prioritize
Shift your mindset(“mental
toughness”)
Ask for whatyou wantand need
MindsetShift:Discussion/Activity
• Whatissomethingthatyoufindstressfulorcomplicated?(e.g.,publicspeaking,writing)
• Discusswaystoshiftyourmindset.(e.g.,practice,findmoreopportunitiestodoit)
• Formagroupoflike-mindedpeerswithwhichtopractice
Work-LifeSatisfaction
begins with awareness:
Your situation and the systems in which you live and work
Resources available to you
Your strengths and weaknesses
Your values/priorities
Your current level of work-lifesatisfaction and
your work-life challenges
Cultivate astrong
support system
Exercise your NO!
Plan and prioritize
Shift your mindset(“mental
toughness”)
Ask for whatyou wantand need
Establishguilt-freeboundaries
LifeBalanceandCareerinContext
community
career
personal life
Guilt-freeBoundaries:Discussion
• Phoneexample• Emailexample:
– Howoftendoyoucheckyouremail?– Howoftendoyouneedtocheckyouremail?– Boundary:Ifcriticalcancall
Guilt-freeBoundaries:Discussion
• Vacations• Worktravel• Doubledippingvs.separation
Work-LifeSatisfaction
begins with awareness:
Your situation and the systems in which you live and work
Resources available to you
Your strengths and weaknesses
Your values/priorities
Your current level of work-lifesatisfaction and
your work-life challenges
Cultivate astrong
support system
Rechargeyour
batteriesExercise your
NO!
Plan and prioritize
Shift your mindset(“mental
toughness”)
Ask for whatyou wantand need
Establishguilt-free
boundaries
Howdoyou
rechargeyour
batteries?
Use your experimental skills to build a happier life!
Work-LifeSatisfaction
begins with awareness:
Your situation and the systems in which you live and work
Resources available to you
Your strengths and weaknesses
Your values/priorities
Your current level of work-lifesatisfaction and
your work-life challenges
Cultivate astrong
support system
Rechargeyour
batteriesExercise your
NO!
Plan and prioritize
Shift your mindset(“mental
toughness”)
Ask for whatyou wantand need
Establishguilt-free
boundaries
Pick a few strategies to try and experiment to find out what helps you the most!
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