Student-Authors of the course Basic Leadership Skills \u2013 Fall 2019 Student Editor-in-chief Fall 2019: Nadine Haibt<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong>\u201cTake care of yourself: When you don\u2019t sleep, eat crap, don\u2019t exercise, and are living off adrenaline for too long, your performance suffers. Your decisions suffer. Your company suffers. Love those close to you: Failure of your company is not failure in life. Failure in your relationship is.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2015Ev Williams, co-founder of Medium and Twitter<\/em><\/p>\n Over the last decades due to technology and business improvements work-life has become faster than it used to be. Leaders must be reachable throughout the whole day and even on weekends. Due to advanced technology, it is easier to be permanently at work and a physical location for work no longer exists. In order to stay productive and healthy, leaders need to take care of their work-life balance. They often tend to think about work all the time and forget about the most important thing in their life \u2013 relationships.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In focus: the passionate guide<\/strong><\/p>\n To define the word phrase \u2018passionate guides\u2019, the two words should be first explained separately. \u2018Passionate\u2019 comes from the word \u2018passion\u2019<\/em> and means \u201ca very powerful feeling, for example of sexual attraction, love, hate, anger, or other emotion\u201d (Cambridge Dictionary 2019). Transferred to an adjective it describes a person with very strong feelings towards something. In this paper, the feelings are about the company, success, and leadership. Passionate people also \u201cwork hard, they trust their intuition and they persevere\u201d (Henri 2016). They have characteristics like courage, growth-orientation, self-motivation and most important for our topic non-balance (Henri 2016). They are often really into their work, so they forget to rest or also don\u2019t want to or even can\u2019t rest.<\/p>\n The word \u2018guide\u2019<\/em> describes \u201cone that leads or directs another’s way\u201d or \u201ca person who directs another’s conduct or course of life\u201d (Merriam Webster 2019). A guide is someone who shows his\/her followers the way but let them walk alone and let them do their tasks in their own way. If they need help, he\/she also assists them and gives pieces of information that are necessary to succeed during the path.<\/p>\n Thus, a guide is a leader, and as pointed about by Adair (2016), the \u201cModern English <\/em>lead is related to Old English words meaning \u2018a way, a journey\u2019 and \u2018to travel\u2019. It is a journey word. If you are not on a journey, don\u2019t bother with leadership \u2013 just settle for management\u2019\u2019<\/em>.<\/p>\n Putting those words together, you can say a \u2018passionate guide\u2019 is a person, who goes to great lengths to reach his\/her goals. Those guides are very enthusiastic about their work and this is also something their followers can feel. Passionate leaders-guides are really into their work, that\u2019s why they have a problem with their work-life balance. One of the characteristics of passionate leaders-guides is non-balance. They can work for many hours straight without a break, but this is not good for their physical and mental health and for their social life. That is why it is so important that passionate guides learn to have a good work-life balance practice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Finding the right work-life balance<\/strong><\/p>\n There is no general solution in finding the right work-life balance. The decision is made by everyone on their own based on their situation and values. Therefore, it can also vary daily according to changing the environment and family structure. Splitting work and personal life equally is not possible. To have a schedule with fixed hours is unrealistic in practice. As stated by Bird (2003) work-life balance can be explained as \u201cAchievement and Enjoyment\u201d. These two concepts should answer the question of WHY<\/em> we are doing something. It is about the meaning behind our behaviors.<\/p>\n Enjoyment is equal to pride, love and a sense of well-being, and he describes that neither Enjoyment nor Achievement exists without the other part. It is the problem of most successful guides that they are living without Enjoyment and hence are not happy at all. Finding the right work-life balance is about achieving and enjoying something daily in work, family, friends, and self.<\/p>\n A good work-life balance helps guides to stay motivated and perform better at their job. They can focus more productively on the given tasks and can give their best to inspire their employees and people.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Finding solutions \u2013 methods to rest<\/strong><\/p>\n As already mentioned above, passionate guides are absorbed and embedded in their work; they forget sometimes everything around them.<\/p>\n There are different methods and practices.<\/p>\n First, it is very important that leaders-guides set boundaries and work hours. There must be a strict separation between social life, like friends, family and hobbies and work life. Therefore, it is very important that guides have clear working hours and that they also can switch off their phones after work and don\u2019t have to be accessible all the time. They also should avoid thinking about work and upcoming projects all the time, so it\u2019s a good idea to use a separate phone and computer for work. Priorities and goals should also be well set. Priorities should always involve their own happiness and health and the relationship to friends and family, as well. Goals must be set achievable and the guides should be passionate about them (Schooley 2019).<\/p>\n Another method to improve the work-life balance is not only good for the guides, but also for his followers. The office environment has a big influence on this topic and many of them must be improved. People work better and are more successful if they like their environment and if they feel comfortable. Some resting areas with coaches, a TV, free energy drinks and games are a good idea. The employees but also the guides can make a break thereafter hard and stressful hours of work and can calm down and relax. They even have more power after such a break and are more motivated to go back to work. It could be also an area where to talk about work is forbidden. The passionate leaders-guides need an environment, in which they can completely get away from their problems during work, otherwise, they just keep thinking about it (Newman 2018).<\/p>\n Passionate guides are so focused on their work, that it\u2019s hard for them to delegate tasks to someone else. They want to have control over everything. But in a big company, it is impossible that one person can do everything by their own. So, another method is about how the guides should handle their teams or employees. They should delegate some work to others. That\u2019s why it is very important that guides have a good team, which they can trust. They need to practice what they preached. So, the employees understand them and their goals and do their best to support the leadership process (Kiger 2018). In this way, it\u2019s easier to relax in their free time and go on holiday and not thinking about work all the time. They know that they have people, who are doing their job good and they can count on them.<\/p>\n Additionally, \u00a0other forms of \u00a0\u2019\u2019<\/em>resting\u2019\u2019 methods \u00a0for passionate guides work-life balance can also be found among those\u00a0 ”mindful movement\u2019\u2019 as listed in the report of the Global Wellness Institute, \u2018\u2019Move to be Well: The Global Economy of Physical Activity\u2019\u2019 (2018): \u2019\u2019In our frenetically paced, stressful, sleepless and chronic-pain-plagued world, the demand for slower, mindful movement\u2014which includes yoga, Pilates, tai chi, qigong, stretch, barre, Gyro tonic, etc.\u2014is skyrocketing. Of the world\u2019s population, 3.8 percent now regularly participates in mindful movement, spending on average $101\/year. While the market is now concentrated in wealthier countries, practices are spreading fast throughout the world\u2019\u2019.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Finding solutions \u2013 Participative Leadership<\/strong><\/p>\n A way for guides to find the right balance and to decrease stress is by acting according to the participative leadership style. It picks up the idea of building on and trusting the team as described in the section above. It may seem a bit different to the other leadership styles at first as it has nothing in common with hierarchical styles, but it is a good approach within the corporate world. The theory focuses on the involvement of different participants and is based on Kurt Lewin\u00b4s laissez-faire style but has influences from Maslow\u2019s theory of human motivation as well (Anastasia 2016).<\/p>\n The theory encourages the subordinates to give input and being involved, but the guide is still in charge of the decision-making. Therefore, the guide gets consulting support and the team can decide which tasks are done by whom. Certain objectives are discussed altogether so there is less pressure on the guide. On the other hand, he\/she still has full control of things. Tasks can be delegated or are set on the go.<\/p>\n Participative leadership is an approach to encourage others and facilitate conversations. It gives a platform to encourage idea collaboration and work as a team. Therefore, overall work morale can be improved, and the guide will experience both, achievement and enjoyment during work life.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n Passionate Guides\/Leaders need to be aware of their own work-life balance. Having success is most of the time connected with not being satisfied or happy. Being passionate and having a commitment towards the employees or, moreover the followers, is a good characteristic but can be difficult too. Therefore, they should ask themselves what they want to achieve and what they want to enjoy. Finding rest and calm during work life is an important approach as encouraging and delegating team members is essential in order to stay productive and happy. With the methods described above, passionate guides can really improve their work-life balance. Of course, it is hard work to find a good inner balance, to build up a good team and to trust people, but in the end, it\u2019s worth it. Life isn\u00b4t about work it\u00b4s about the relationships and quality of life itself.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n References<\/strong><\/p>\n Adair, J. 2016. Develop Your Leadership Skills<\/em>. 3th Edition. Kogan Page Limited.<\/p>\n Anastasia. 2016. Participative Leadership Guide: Definition, Qualities, Pros & Cons, Examples<\/em>. Cleverism Magazine. Accessed on the 3rd<\/sup> November 2019. Retrieved from https:\/\/www.cleverism.com\/participative-leadership-guide\/<\/a><\/p>\n Bird, J. 2003. Work-Life Balance Defined.<\/em> WorkLifeBalance.com. Accessed on the 1st<\/sup> November 2019. Retrieved from https:\/\/worklifebalance.com\/work-life balance-defined\/<\/a><\/p>\n Cambridge University Press. 2019. Accessed on the 31st<\/sup> October 2019. Retrieved from https:\/\/dictionary.cambridge.org\/dictionary\/english\/passion<\/a><\/p>\n Global Wellness Institute. Empowering Wellness Worldwide. Move to be Well: Henri, 2016. The 20 Essential Habits of Highly Passionate People.<\/em> Wake up cloud. Accessed on the 30th<\/sup> October 2019. Retrieved from https:\/\/www.wakeupcloud.com\/passionate-habits\/<\/a><\/p>\n Kiger, D. 2018. Executives Should Focus On Prioritizing Work-Life Balance<\/em>. Business 2 Community. Accessed on the 30th<\/sup> October 2019. Retrieved from https:\/\/www.business2community.com\/leadership\/executives-should-focus-on-prioritizing-work-life balance-02079710<\/a><\/p>\n Merriam Webster. 2019. Accessed on the 31st<\/sup> October 2019. Retrieved from https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/guide<\/a><\/p>\n Newman, B. 2018. 5 Methods for Improving Employee Work-Life Balance<\/em>. Synergy. Accessed on the 30th<\/sup> October 2019. Retrieved from https:\/\/mysynergy.com\/2018\/09\/04\/improving-employee-work-life balance\/<\/p>\n
\nPassionate Guides\u00a0community:
\nCeline Freund (Germany<\/em>), Giuseppe Iacovino (Italy<\/em>), Julius Korkea-aho (Finland<\/em>), Nadine Haibt (Germany<\/em>), Nina Roi (France<\/em>), Ombeline Lacroix (France<\/em>) – Marcella Zoccoli (JAMK University of Applied Sciences)<\/p>\nBeing more than a leader \u2013 being a passionate guide: the importance of a good work-life balance<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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\nThe Global Economy of Physical Activity Report 2018. Accessed on 30th<\/sup> November 2019. Retrieved from https:\/\/globalwellnessinstitute.org\/industry-research\/global-economy-physical-activity\/<\/a><\/p>\n