WORK-LIFE BALANCE: AN ISSUE WHOSE TIME IS HERE
Work-life balance is a concept that has come into vogue in the last 10 years, and for good reason: all around us, in organizations large and small, career professionals are besieged by too much information and communication competing for their time and attention. These people are not inept at time management or at proceeding productively through the day. Unlike any previous generation, however, they are bombarded with too many bits of information, too much to reply to, and too much to keep pace with, every day, all day long, all week long, month after month, and now, year after year.

Jeff Davidson, who holds the registered trademark, The Work-Life Balance Expert ® and who is featured as work-life balance speaker at www.barberusa.com, defines work-life balance, as "having the ability to experience a sense of control and stay productive and competitive at work, while maintaining a happy, healthy home life with sufficient leisure. It is attaining focus and awareness despite seemingly endless tasks and activities competing for your time and attention."

Nearly every career professional today has already read his or her share of time management books or at least articles on time management, stress management, work-life balance, productivity, and career advancement. Plenty of information is available on how to stay in control. The fundamental issue people face today is that the level of distraction and the sheer volume of unrelenting data flow is unprecedented in history.

Tried and true methods for carving out the time and space that one needs to be effective have gone by the wayside. Techniques and approaches that once worked well fall far short of being effective today. Applying traditional time or stress management techniques, for example, in the face of all that comes our way is like putting a band-aid on an eight inch gash.

Against this backdrop, corporations and organizations of all sizes need to invest in work-life balance presenters because their most precious commodity – their human resources – are being stretched to the max. Today’s career professional wants and needs to have innovative strategies and fresh perspectives to handle an ever-increasing array of demands both in the workplace and at home.

Fortunately, there answers. Davidson observes, "Achieving work-life balance does not require radical changes in what you do. It is about developing keen insights and sensible, actionable solutions that are appropriate for you. It is fully engaging in life with what you have, right where you are, smack dab in the ever-changing dynamics of your existence."

The impact that Davidson has on his audiences has been well-documented. Companies that have retained him as a speaker have reported impressive results. Davidson has spoken in almost every industry, from aviation to zoology, and has addressed individuals in administration, law, banking, education, finance, government, health care, manufacturing, retailing, and wholesaling. He has also addressed charitable organizations, executive round tables, and partner's programs. His client list includes many Fortune 500 companies as well as national and international associations and organizations.

The solutions that Davidson devises for your organization often are relatively uncomplicated. A minor adjustment, a slightly altered way of doing things, and voila, your staff is energized, more productive, and more enthusiastic about work than they’ve been in a while.

When your people are hurting, delay is not pretty. Whether you call in Jeff Davidson or any other work-life balance expert, don’t wait until morale is taking a nosedive, your people are grumbling, or you lose top performers.