Extreme jobs?
I read an interesting article in this month’s Harvard Business Review entitled “Extreme Jobs: The Dangerous Allure of the 70-Hour Work Week.” It struck a particular chord with me because I average 55 hours per week and when I travel a lot, which happens frequently, it can average nearly 70 hours per week.
As I read the article I couldn’t help but think of all that we are told about the up and coming generations – Gen X and Gen Y. I have both read and been told that they want more life balance, more time to do what they enjoy, etc. But what happened to enjoying work? I get a lot of joy and satisfaction from the work that I do, and while my wife and three children might disagree with me, I do my level-best to balance the significant responsibilities that I have at home (my wife will tell you that we live in an equal opportunity household!) with those I have at the office.
Like you, I am often asked by younger professionals how to get ahead in association management. At the end of the day, in my mind, good or bad, right or wrong, you must work hard (and smart) if you want to excel in this or any other profession. And working hard often translates in to working long hours – longer hours than one might really want to work – in order to get ahead. I had a young colleague in my office not long ago who badly wants to climb the association management latter but he expressed wanting to do so without working more than 7.5 hours daily. That just doesn’t compute for me – and that’s what I told this colleague. I told him work smart and work hard, do the job you’re doing now AND the one that you want to do next. Smile. Be gracious and courteous to all. Dress better than the going “business casual” environments dictate these days. Be honest and genuine. Be ethical and moral. And if you can do all of this in 7.5 hours per day, more power to you! I never figured out how!
Something to think about.
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Comments
Nice post. Two comments:
First, I don't equate "balance" with "working less." The Generational movement towards work life balance simply challenges what used to be a given that in order to succeed you had to work so hard that your family life suffered. Balance can include long hours, just sometimes after the kids' soccer game, or before you run the carpool, etc.
Second, when Gen Xers initially started calling for work life balance, they were younger, and at a stage in their career that, honestly, didn't require as much work. As they hit middle and senior management, I think the message will shift to one of "lots of hours, but still with some balance."
Posted by: Jamie Notter | December 5, 2006 9:00 AM
One thing that can help contribute to a feeling of balance (or ruin it) is the issue of whether or not your work is meaningful. There are a lot of aspects to “meaning,” but one that stands out for me, at least this morning, is: Are those long hours accomplishing something important?
I’ve worked places where “face time” was critical to success; you were expected to be seen in the office after 7 pm and on weekends, no matter what. That kind of expectation just builds frustration; nobody likes to feel like their time is just being wasted.
I’ve also worked places where I was putting in long hours as part of a team aiming toward a well-thought-out goal. When the goal was met, there was an extra feeling of satisfaction in knowing that my extra efforts were a big part of that success.
Another thought in the same vein: At one association where I worked, as a thank-you for putting in extra time on a project, the association paid for a nice dinner for me and my spouse. I appreciated the recognition that he had contributed as well, by being flexible and (in our case) taking on extra baby-watching-time so that I could pitch in at work.
Posted by: Lisa Junker | December 6, 2006 7:24 AM
Be careful not to glamorize excessive work hours. A person who toils 70 hours per week is not necessarily achieving more than a person who works 50. If you didn't eat or sleep, do laundry or go shopping, you still could not do everything that needs to be done. Focus on the important tasks and don't think that working excessive hours (70 hours a week is excessive) will make you a better professional.
Posted by: David M. Patt, CAE | December 12, 2006 5:29 PM