For some people (especially entrepreneurs), work-life balance has become a toxic phrase — symbolizing sloth, not taking responsibility, and doing the minimum necessary work.
For others, it is a war cry against corporate slavery — intolerable work conditions, long hours, and unreasonable demands on their time.
Then what is the right answer?
For that, I would like to share a story from my first job, when I was heading a police force. To terrorize the criminals, we would occasionally conduct ‘combing operations’ — where you would put all the policemen out on the road till late at night, and raid hangout dens of anti-social elements, etc.
Done once in a few months, it would yield good results — you would nab a bunch of anti-social elements. But one of my bosses started asking me to do it once every month. Then it became a fortnightly, and even a weekly affair.
Soon, policemen were fatigued, and there was no element of surprise. At that point, it lost all meaning.
Similarly, we may have to push hard at times in special situations. And at those times, you don’t want anything to come in the way — I understand.
But if we keep stretching our teams endlessly, they will get fatigued, creativity will dry up, and it will become a grind for the sake of grind.
Work-life balance is not a license to slack off. Have zero tolerance for slackers and free-riders. But making people work 90 hours a week is not the answer to any problem.
My motto is: Reasonable hours, maximum focus, the best work — then go home.
– Rajan