Self. Family. Work.

Self > Family > Work

In that order. No exceptions. 

This has been the foundation for all of my teams. It’s the first thing I cover with new hires. It’s the first thing I ask about at performance reviews and 1-1s (and I ask in the proper order). Self. Family. Work. 

You don’t have to pry or violate any HIPAA laws to do this. You just need to ask if they are taking care of things in the right order. It can feel counterintuitive or even awkward because this is a job. It can feel redundant because we have a corporate policy that already mentions “work-life balance”. But it’s fundamental that we as leaders emphasize it in a real manner, that we find ways to give our people practical support when they are faced with daily decisions. Great teammates want to work, to push things forward, to have impact for the business and its customers. They will also try to work when sick. They will have the urge to skip exercising or eating well. They will feel guilty to miss meetings for an ill family member or a daughter’s basketball game or a son’s recital. When my teammates are faced with these decisions, all I need to do is nod and mention “Self > Family > Work” and they know. The relief on their faces is immediate. It’s a simple shorthand with immense impact.

This has always been important to me from the first day I became a people manager, but the last two years have made it critical. We have to support our teammates in real ways. They are navigating impossible times and exceeding productivity demands in the most challenging circumstances. And while we must provide the basics of material support to do their jobs, often the best thing we as leaders can do is remind them of a simple order of operations.

Self > Family > Work