GREENSBORO, NC – Many people struggle to balance their jobs and personal lives – and allowing conventions and the expectations of others to dominate their responses only adds to the pressure. What if, instead, different people require different approaches for managing boundaries effectively?
WorkLife Indicator, a first-of-its-kind assessment tool co-developed by the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL®) and Dr. Ellen Kossek, University Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University’s School of Human Resources & Labor Relations, helps busy leaders find their own distinctive approach.
The assessment measures three areas critical to improving the high stress lives of many leaders: 1) how they handle interruptions; 2) whether they see themselves as work-focused, family-focused or both; and 3) the extent to which they feel in control of how they manage their work-life boundaries.
Based on research with more than 600 alumni of CCL programs and drawing on Kossek’s book CEO of Me: Creating a Life That Works in the Flexible Job Age, the tool takes about ten minutes to complete online. Results are delivered in a PDF customized feedback report and integrated planning guide with tips and exercises for increasing effectiveness on and off the job. The package costs $30 per person.
For individual leaders, WorkLife Indicator provides self-awareness about their existing approach to boundaries and practical techniques for reducing stress and enhancing performance. For organizations, the tool helps increase employee engagement and productivity by offering individuals insights into the work styles that are most effective for them.
“WorkLife Indicator allowed our faculty to tangibly recognize how they were actually spending their time,” said Susan Freimark of the Women Faculty Leadership Development Institute at Case Western Reserve University. “This led to discussions about values and priorities and, ultimately, workable action plans to find a balance that brought both personal and professional fulfillment.”
“Individuals have more options than ever before about how, when and where they work, and that can be an opportunity or a burden,” said CCL senior faculty member Dr. Kelly Hannum, who co-created the tool with CCL senior fellow Dr. Marian Ruderman. “This assessment provides the information and tools needed to manage the boundaries in our lives more productively and sustainably.”
“When it comes to dealing with work-life boundaries, there is no one approach that works for everyone,” said Kossek. “It’s about paying attention to what you are doing and finding the approach that works best for you in light of your current job and personal demands.”
More information about WorkLife Indicator can be found at www.ccl.org/wli.
