It's All About Priorities

Since beginning the journey of “activating companies for good” here at Saatchi & Saatchi S, I’ve been amazed and inspired by how openly and broadly people think about what “good” actually means. The bright spots people see in the world – and in their families, and communities, and workplaces – are varied and abundant. And lucky us -- we get to come to work every day challenged to make sense of all of this “good.” To give it a home, a framework, a common language, and a set of actions that move this concept from amorphous and fluffy to business-focused and real.

One of the topics I think belongs in the discussion about “good” is balance. I’ve cared about balance for as long as I’ve cared about work, as I’ve always felt that I could be a better employee, colleague, manager, contributor, thinker and do-er if I had time and space to devote to things and people I care about. To me, a Midwestern product of two teachers who had summers off, were home for dinner every night, and took time to chase their passions, the concept of balance felt like a no-brainer. But, throughout my career, it’s been a struggle to make a case that it’s a worthwhile investment…to assert the need for a balanced existence within the constraints of workplaces that fit the traditional model of long hours, face time, and “more is better.”

This inner (and now outer) dialogue is at the forefront for me now more than ever. As the mother of a toddler and an infant, living and working in a family where both my husband and I choose to have full-time jobs, balance is a hot button for me. And I’m certainly not alone. Sheryl Sandberg’s TED talk earlier this year about why we have too few female leaders felt as viral among my female friends as that subservient chicken ad did a decade ago. For weeks, it was popping up everywhere – people were talking about it, posting it, and sharing their response to her three poignant points about how to increase the number of female leaders:

1) Sit at the Table,
2) Make Your Partner a Real Partner
3) Don’t Leave Before You Leave.

I loved the spirit of Sheryl’s talk, and I wholeheartedly agree that a fundamental change to the perception of men’s and women’s roles in the workplace/child-rearing realms is long overdue.

However, Sheryl’s talk didn’t fully ring true for me, in large part because I felt it neglected to focus on the main point that I think is critical for any working parent, or frankly anyone who is striving for balance: prioritization. I came to the realization just before the arrival of my second child that, believe it or not, I couldn’t have it all. I gained clarity that life is a constant exercise in prioritization, and that’s OK. We are challenged at all stages of our lives to be self-aware enough to identify and rank our priorities in life. What’s at the top of our list? Parenting? Becoming a CEO? Sleeping nine hours a night? Staying in touch with friends? Getting a second degree? Success, peace, balance – and dare I say, happiness – are dependent on our ability to prioritize, make clear choices based on these priorities, and stick to our guns.

You might be wondering how this all ties back to “activating companies for good.” It’s my belief that the foundation of any “good” company is its “good” employees. So if employers really want to be “good,” it’s imperative that they treat employees with respect and cultivate authentic brand ambassadors who will love being at work every day…who will talk the talk and walk the walk…who are balanced and whole. Considering the multiple demands people face in today’s busy world, companies have a huge opportunity to build trust by actively participating in this dialogue about prioritization. They can offer resources (coaches, managers, tools) to help employees prioritize and to support employees’ quests to strike a balance that works for them. They can empower employees to bring their full selves to work each day, knowing that more good than harm is bound to come from this level of transparency.

There are leaders and companies that support this level of transparency and realize the reality of prioritization. In fact, a friend of mine, Jessica Jackley (co-founder of Kiva.org and ProFounder) recently posted a heartfelt piece on the topic – more specifically on the challenge of being a CEO and a mom. She reinforces that the workplace of the future is one in which all people can not just survive, but thrive. She paints a picture in which people sustain their businesses and businesses sustain their people – not just financially, but on a personal level as well. I share her belief that the organizations who aren’t afraid to take this leap will persevere as the workplace evolves. And whether that results in more women or more men in the boardroom, actually isn’t the most important question for me. The biggest question for me is whether a more balanced approach to living can move the happiness needle…at work and at home.

Brynn Harrington is director of consulting at Saatchi S and mother of two.