I WAS recently invited to be a guest presenter in a podcast for Meat & Livestock Australia, where the focus was on providing helpful tips to young agricultural consultants on how to live and work more effectively in smaller rural communities.
During the session I raised the issue of gaining a desired work-life balance. Most consultants have good strategic planning and management skills and are in keen demand for roles on local committees and organisations.
There is a well known saying if you want a job done, ask a busy person to do it.
It is incredible how much a busy person can fit into a day. Increased work and life pressure usually brings with it increased efficiency but that can only go so far.
I have sat in annual meetings where nomination after nomination were declined for an office bearer role and in sheer frustration, I accepted the role when I was already overcommitted.
Many committees are poorly lead and the Paretto Principle - or the 80:20 rule - is well and truly in play. That is, 80 per cent of work is done by 20pc of people, and it's easy to become one of the 20pc.
Throughout my career I have never really learnt how to say no, but I did learn how to package yes better.
- KEN SOLLY
Throughout my career I have never really learnt how to say no, but I did learn how to package yes better. I would get my involvement in an organisation on my terms.
Learning how to say no starts with having a list of non-negotiables in your life. Such things as, we as a family will have three weeks of holiday a year; we will not put anything in front of family birthdays; I will not be out at meetings more than one night a week; 10 o'clock is bed time and I will not return to any form of work after the evening meal.
When asked to join a committee, the work load will usually be understated to give the impression it is not much extra to fit in.
In my case being on committees ended up being double the time I originally thought it would be. If your life is already fully committed, you need to ask yourself what can I drop off my work list or what will suffer if I accept the invitation.
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In most cases decisions about these two questions are never made, we just pile it on top of our existing workload and our work-life balance suffers.
When asked to join a committee for a term, I suggest not answering straight away, but sitting on in for a period of time and ruminate about the reasons and benefits of being involved.
Question how important this committee is to the community, family or business, so a good decision can be made.
If you know that you will only be able to attend three quarters of the meetings stating this up front and gaining agreement will be of great help. If the answer is no, make sure the organisation seeking your services know of the other commitments you have and the hours you invest in each - it is one way of gaining acceptance of the decision.
It usually comes down to discipline - if you start with the non-negotiables in life and family, there is a fair chance the right decision will be made.
- Details: kensolly@rbm.com.au