improving work-life satisfaction - west · improving work-life satisfaction mikel “micky”...

www.awis.org

Improving Work-Life Satisfaction

Mikel “Micky” HolcombPhysics Department, WVU

Mother of 2 kids (Age 5 and 7)Funded by NSF, DOE, ACS

(Based on materials from a partnership between AWIS & the Elsevier Foundation)

“GroundRules” &Housekeeping

“Absorb what is useful, reject what is useless, add what is specifically

your own”Bruce Lee

• Respecteachother• Silenceandputawaycellphones

• Maintainconfidentiality

www.awis.org

“What makes work-life

satisfaction so challenging?”

Personal Work Personal Work

Work-Life balance goals will fluctuate throughout your life, throughout the year

and sometimes throughout the day!

When both hit simultaneously, need coping strategies!

DefiningSatisfactionItisdifferentforeveryperson.

• Variesovertime• Notjustaboutwomen• Notjustaboutchildren/parents• Findingtimeforlifeoutsideofwork(rafting)• Tensionbetweendemands(teachingvs research)• Makingchoicesthatmatchyourvaluesandpriorities(ex.Youvalueteaching,butnotrewardedforitORopposite)

Work-LifeSatisfaction

begins with awareness:

Your situation and the systems in which you live and work

Resources available to you

Your strengths and weaknesses

Your values/priorities

Your current level of work-lifesatisfaction and

your work-life challengesWhat is satisfaction to

you?Not always easy to identify the answer

EXERCISE:80th Birthday Tribute

ParticipantDebrief

Whatarethevaluesand

prioritiesthataremost

meaningfultoyou,as

evidencedbyyourtoast?








your work-life challenges

Cultivate astrong

support system

Rechargeyour

batteriesExercise your

NO!

Plan and prioritize

Shift your mindset(“mental

toughness”)

Ask for whatyou wantand need

Establishguilt-free

boundaries









Cultivate astrong

support system

Whodoyouaskforadvice?Topicsmightinclude:

ClassesResearch

CareerPlanningService

MostPeopleDon’tAskforHelpfromEnoughPeople!

• FriendsandFamily• OnlineResources• HousecleaningorNeighborhoodTeenagers• SelfAnalysis• Networking• Mentoring• Peers

Whoaretwopeopleyoucouldaddtoyoursupportsystem?

What are important qualities in a mentor?

What are important qualities in a mentee?

The Role of a Mentee

• Seek advice, not a supervisor who directs actions.• Synthesize lessons learned from many mentors –

become your own person.• Come prepared (what do you want, strengths,

weaknesses)

Example: Public Speaking

Follow Nike’s advice.

How do you ask someone to mentor you?

What’s the worst they can say?









Cultivate astrong

support system


Why is this difficult?

WhatYouNeed:Discussion/Activity

• Hasanyoneaskedforsomethingtheyneedrecently?Wishyouhad?

• Framingisimportant:Ifyouprovidemewiththisresource,Ican….– ThesearethegreatthingsIwilldowiththatresource

• Howdoesitbenefittheorganization:relatemission,strategicplanofuniversity,college,department

• Deliverables?









Cultivate astrong

support system

Plan and prioritize


Priorities/ValuesHolding our deeply

held values and priorities in our consciousness

provides a “compass” for

making important decisions.

YourWeeklyPlanningMeeting

Determinewhatmust bedoneeach

weekandeachday

Chooseyouractionsbasedonyourplan

Weekly,review,reflect,celebrate

successesandplanforthecomingweek

Should align with personal

and professional priorities and

goals

Leave time open for

unexpected “urgent and important”

issues

Remember the goal isn’t

PERFECTION

MakeaScheduleDoesitalignwithhowyouareranked?

The more specific your tasks can be, the better!









Cultivate astrong

support system

Exercise your NO!

Plan and prioritize


5QuestionstoAskWhenYouAreConsideringSayingYes:

1.MustthisbeDONE?

(Whosays?)


2. MustthisbedoneBYME?

(Ifnotme,thenwho?)

Onlyifitappliestoallthree


3. MustthisbedoneRIGHT

NOW?


4.MustthisbedoneTHISWAY?

(Why?)


5. IfIsayyestothis,whatamIsayingnoto?

SayNO bysayingYES:

“Here’swhatIcan do…”fromJudyFeld,AWIScoach

Exerciseyour“No”Discussion/Activity

• Thinkofsomethingyouhavebeenaskedtodorecently(ex:chairacommittee,organizeameeting)andaskyourselfthese5Questions(usehandout)









Cultivate astrong

support system

Exercise your NO!

Plan and prioritize


toughness”)


MindsetShift:Discussion/Activity

• Whatissomethingthatyoufindstressfulorcomplicated?(e.g.,publicspeaking,writing)

• Discusswaystoshiftyourmindset.(e.g.,practice,findmoreopportunitiestodoit)

• Formagroupoflike-mindedpeerswithwhichtopractice









Cultivate astrong

support system

Exercise your NO!

Plan and prioritize


toughness”)


Establishguilt-freeboundaries

LifeBalanceandCareerinContext

community

career

personal life

Guilt-freeBoundaries:Discussion

• Phoneexample• Emailexample:

– Howoftendoyoucheckyouremail?– Howoftendoyouneedtocheckyouremail?– Boundary:Ifcriticalcancall

Guilt-freeBoundaries:Discussion

• Vacations• Worktravel• Doubledippingvs.separation









Cultivate astrong

support system

Rechargeyour


NO!

Plan and prioritize


toughness”)


Establishguilt-free

boundaries

Howdoyou

rechargeyour

batteries?

Use your experimental skills to build a happier life!









Cultivate astrong

support system

Rechargeyour


NO!

Plan and prioritize


toughness”)


Establishguilt-free

boundaries

Pick a few strategies to try and experiment to find out what helps you the most!

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improving work-life satisfaction - west · improving work-life satisfaction mikel “micky”...

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