How can technology help leaders achieve work-life balance?

Create a Stop-Doing List! The stop-doing list is a very simple tool that can help you free up time. What might go on it? Simple tasks that you can outsource or automate. Unproductive behaviors. Things you do out of habit or guilt. For inspiration, here is my personal stop-doing list. Personal Cutting the grass/garden upkeep (outsourced) Cleaning (outsourced) Unproductive Behaviors Stop checking my phone when I am with my boys Stop training through injuries Business Stop constant email checking (instead, check just twice per day, respond once) Stop doing social media myself (outsourced) Stop trying to have more than two areas to focus on at any time Make sure you are prioritizing what truly matters to you.

Using a time tracker can do more than you think. It not only blocks time, but also if all you business and volunteer time is entered, it gives you the clearest time spent on what. Much like a budget, it will also show where time and dollars intersect and where too many $ are spent on projects not worth the effort.

Using technology to get work life balance is all about understanding and leveraging technology for the good of everyone To do so many of the important steps are to be considered ▶️ Set priority and understand what are your boundaries ▶️ Understand what you want to do and what is the clarity you have that you what to achieve ▶️ Learn the latest ways of implementing and using technology ▶️ Once you understand the ways make it work for your vision and aligned to you ▶️ Clear the thoughts, regular workshops, understand the usage better ▶️ Insure to use the technology to ease your work and achieve work life balance ♎

Technology enables leaders to delegate tasks efficiently, streamline processes, and facilitate remote work. By utilizing tools for scheduling, communication, and task management, leaders can better organize their workload, allowing for more flexibility and separation between work and personal life.

Here are a few tools/tips I use to set boundaries and priorities: 1) Time blocking - I break out my time into 4 categories: focus, admin, social and recovery. And I'll dedicated specific days of the week to certain tasks. 2) Project mgmt tool - I use a project mgmt tool to coordinate all of my projects, and impact and effect of those projects. 3) Do not disturb - This is your friend. I got rid of my smartwatch, and set my phone to do not disturb when I'm in deep work mode. 4) Every quarter I do a time audit - how did I spent my time, was it impactful, what needs to be adjusted? I review into 4 categories: does this align w/ my goals, should I delegate, should I stop doing it, does it need to be moved up or down in the priority list?

One non-negotiable point is continuously learning. While working and having family you cannot imagine yourself or your team member going to classes, or colleges to add skills. The professional life, which you are in is already teaching a lot of new things which is out of syllabus. According to me, online learning and learning by doing is the only way to keep yourself ahead of curve. The best experience I am having is with toastmasters club. You can connect with mentors, coaches, and peers who can offer you feedback, guidance, and support. Connect for more details about my online line journey! Join

There are a whole range of options for online coaching, including finding a mentor in a different part of the country or even the world. Everything is much more open and an hour coffee catch up that would have taken twenty minutes to go to and from the cafe can become an efficient virtual meeting.

Leaders can also leverage technology for continuous learning and coaching through online platforms. AI-driven tools, coupled with resources available on platforms like LinkedIn, provide personalized learning experiences. This enables leaders to enhance their skills and knowledge at their own pace, without the constraints of traditional learning methods. By embracing these opportunities, leaders can pursue professional development without compromising their work-life equilibrium.

Online platforms offer a treasure trove of leadership development resources. They provide an avenue for continual learning and connection with mentors, enhancing leadership skills like emotional intelligence and decision-making, all while maintaining a balance between personal and professional life.

I love coaching employees, but as my tasks increase, my coaching of employees is nearly impossible. What can we do? Use online learning and coaching programs. It's been difficult to change from personal coaching to saying, "did you see the videos?" However, without online training, scaling would be impossible for me, and for many businesses. We use our own Learning Management System, and some third-party videos and courses. I think the most difficult part of this is for the coach or leader. You'll need to push back, say no, don't accept people taking your time, direct them to the online tools, and explain why you are doing it.

Being in a position of leadership, you may communicate that "you're always available to help." And while that's admirable, it may also send mixed messages about what "balance" means. By modeling too much availability, your teams inadvertently learn that the expectation is "be productive, yet always be available." But if they are unable to remain focused on their work they will be less effective with their time (= less balance). That goes for leaders too. Solutions? 1. Set some rules around when it’s time to work, and when it’s time to read through messages (or help others). 2. Hold boundaries that protect your own time to work (lead by example). 3. Establish agreements on how to triage and prioritize internal needs, and client needs.

Using group chats, you can stay better connected. Cultivate more than a GIF culture. There's loads of fun and humour to be had from GIFs, and I do enjoy a well chosen meme. But also plan to have meaningful connections and ask the right questions when someone is feeling down. You may not be there in person to give them a hug; but a thoughtful e-card or gift in the post can make a world of difference.

While technology offers numerous benefits, it's crucial to use it thoughtfully. Be mindful of its impact on your well-being and relationships. Choose and use technology deliberately to enhance, not hinder, your work-life balance, while being aware of potential risks like addiction or privacy issues.

Technology can cultivate a positive, collaborative culture. Utilize it to foster open communication, celebrate team successes, and support each other's well-being. By embracing remote and flexible work models, technology can help create an environment of trust and autonomy, beneficial for work-life balance.

Fostering a healthy and supportive culture within a team is facilitated by technology. Collaboration tools and communication platforms create an environment where team members can efficiently interact, share ideas, and collaborate regardless of physical locations. This technological connectivity fosters a supportive culture, promoting transparent communication and understanding among team members, ultimately contributing to a more balanced work atmosphere.

📌Remember who the master is. The future is one where technology augmented humans outplay regular humans or those with inferior tech pairing. Learn to exploit it. It is your advantage if you master yourself first. Tech can be destructive like a drug. While tech never rests, you need to. Maintain your sanity and productivity by being intensional in its use. If tech is interrupting your life or preventing you from enjoying peace or having rich relationships, set boundaries: 1️⃣ Do not integrate tech into every aspect of your life or workflow; it can be liberating to do some things manually 2️⃣ Set tech-free time and zones so you can freely rest, think or meditate without interruption daily 3️⃣ Respect other people’s needs to unplug

Leverage technology wisely. To apply this utilize productivity tools: Use project management and collaboration tools to streamline work flows and improve efficiency. Establish boundaries. Set limits on when you'll respond to work related emails or messages outside of working hours.

When I first heard the phrase "Doomscrolling", I immediately recognised what it meant. And I've never had to define it when speaking to anyone else - it's become intuitively a part of our user experience of media. I've found it helpful to consider the following question: What are you looking for when you swipe up through videos, photos, messages? Work out what exactly that "thing" is before you go onto social media. Then put it through the SLY filter: 1. S - Will it SATISFY what I want from it? 2. L - How LONG will it take? (And be disciplined) 3. Y - Consider what YOU are doing - physically, where you're going in your mind Use bedtime mode and pausing apps to help you get a framework for when you want to use these apps or not.

While technology offers numerous benefits, it's crucial to use it thoughtfully. Be mindful of its impact on your well-being and relationships. Choose and use technology deliberately to enhance, not hinder, your work-life balance, while being aware of potential risks like addiction or privacy issues.

Do not jump in to download just every app. An app is not your saviour, you are. Just because something claims to be synced with your job/brain wiring, doesn't always hold true. Be aware of how much energy it takes you, and if this is actually benefitting you. E.g. for most of my notes, I only use Notes. I have found a way to make that work for me.

Experiment is the first thing I always encourage for myself as well for my team. Wide Varity of technologies are available in the market on your figure tip, in my opinion it is very important to experiment and select the right one, rather than copying form the similarly industry or service setup. For example, using IOT/Cloud based equipment monitoring for the remotely located equipment or equipment located at the height of 60-70Mtr in any industry setup is directly helping the O&M team's wellbeing as they do not have to travel or climb to check the equipment health. The time and energy saved to be utilized in the more productive activities... The complete ecosystem will definitely help in Productivity, Performance and wellbeing..

Experimentation and evaluation play a vital role in finding the right technological strategies for work-life balance. Leaders can experiment with various productivity tools and strategies, observing their impact on efficiency and personal well-being. Regular evaluations allow for adjustments, ensuring that the chosen technological solutions align with the leader's goals for a balanced and fulfilling life.

Adapt and evolve with the ever-changing technological landscape. Experiment with new tools and methods, measure their impact on your productivity and well-being, and continuously refine your approach. Learn from both successes and failures to find what best supports your work-life balance.

Que nunca te dé miedo a probar herramientas nuevas, sólo por el hecho de escuchar el "así estamos bien", "todo funciona a la perfección". Experimentar nuevos esquemas de trabajo, hacks sencillos te ayudarán a saber qué te puede ayudar y qué no.

Use this within the trial period to see how suited it is to you, instead of making sure that you have to make it work. Is the app making you spend way more time you don't have? Are you overwhelmed and exhausted using it? Is your allegiance to the app rather than your productivity/relationship/wellbeing bottomelines? Use these questions to help you decide what you need.

I would strongly encourage folks to focus heavily on this when seeking out the right balance. I remember early in my career having this idea of what “work life balance” looked like. Over time, I realized I was trying to set up my life around someone else’s framework. As you can imagine, it didn’t work because it wasn’t right for me. Take the time to figure out what your core priorities are based on your life circumstances. Balance for you may look very different than for someone else, and that’s okay. That said, keep in mind that your career isn’t everything. It can be taken from you at any moment and won’t be there in the end, so be careful you’re making time for the relationships that will stand life’s trials and the test of time.

If done well, technology helps you prioritise, maintain focus and accelerate thinking. My calendar is coded by priority activities based on expected level of cognitiveness. This helps me build enough prep time. I use DND for focus time which means I don't receive emails or messages in that 2 hour blocks that allows me to get into a flow. I use Generative AI to fast track my research when I design leadership and learning interventions. I give prompts based on concepts, authors and thinkers I know, and ask Gen AI to design the 1st draft case study, role play or modules that saves me up to 50% time as I have a solid base to design from. Overall, understanding what you must do and what you can delegate/automate helps free you time.

Technology is a tool, not a solution for achieving work-life balance. Define what balance means for you, aligning it with your values and goals. Regularly reassess and adapt your approach, using technology as an aid, not a replacement for personal judgment and decision-making.

Finding one's own balance is a dynamic and ongoing process. Technology aids this journey by providing tools for self-reflection and analysis. Apps that track daily activities and provide insights into time management patterns assist leaders in making informed decisions about how to optimize their schedules. This personalized approach allows leaders to continually adapt and refine their strategies based on evolving needs and circumstances.

A work life integration is personalized. What works for me, may not work for you. The key is to reflect on what your core values are, what gives you energy, and what life you want to create. From there, creating frameworks and systems, and using tools, become ways to support your life. Don't focus on the tools first, focus on what you desire first. The rest can be solved based on how you want to live a more purpose-based life and career.

This article is full of interesting examples such as apps to block your calendars automatically. There’s no denying the fact that Technology makes our lives easier. Be it online collaboration apps such as Zoom or MS teams that can bring people across regions, together, in a second or remote work support system with which you can get the work done from anywhere. The examples are countless. Leaders should be able to figure out how technology can help them automate things in order to enable them spend less time or/ and produce better results. However, sometimes taking a break from technology helps in achieving the elusive work-life balance. Ditch your devices every once in a while & spend time with nature to find the balance.

Technology has always been the ally of the smartest. Since its 2023 end; it's synonymous with the AI revolution. So here are 2 ways leaders can leverage this moment in time. Firstly be an early adopter. Fail first to win first Do not miss out on the wave of rising opportunities for exponential growth. The keynote speaker a management maestro at the Mercer conference this Oct said -very clearly - any professional, be it an architect or a doctor who uses AI will have an advantage over one who doesn't. Secondly, use AI to delegate your non-negative, non-analytical work. It will free up your time for your CORE, NON-NEGOTIABLE WORK making you a leader in your Niche.

Technology has always been rejected as it starts with its adaptability or change... Any new technology always comes with a strenuous change management process. Well defined strategy with technology definitely add value to organizations as well as an individual's wellbeing... Crucial step it to execute it with passion and patience.

I would like to add “Use efficient communication tools” as one more effective way. Efficient communication tools in the workplace, such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Zoom, offer various features to enhance collaboration and reduce unnecessary meetings. These platforms support instant messaging, file sharing, video conferencing, and task management, allowing teams to communicate and collaborate in real-time, regardless of location. They help in organizing conversations, automating routine updates, and integrating with other work tools, leading to streamlined workflows and improved productivity. Such tools are crucial, especially with the rise of remote and hybrid work models.

Consider technology as a means to enhance human connection, not replace it. Foster genuine relationships and encourage open dialogue within your team. Remember, technology should serve as a bridge to better understanding and collaboration, contributing positively to everyone's work-life balance.