Work-Life Balance

Work-Life Balance

The purpose of this assignment is to compare and contrast two articles within the same theme. Comparing these articles will help one to recognize similarities and differences in the author’s approach to the topic and gain knowledge through the evidence and data presented. In the article, “Manage Your Work, Manage Your Life” by Boris Groysberg and Robin Abrahams and “No, You Can’t Have It All” by Eric C. Sinoway, two different viewpoints are expressed toward work-life balance. Work-life balance is “carefully combining work and home” (Groysberg & Abrahams, 2014p. 60) while pursuing professional and personal success over years. Work-life balance involves making decisions about “short-term tactical issues” and “long term strategic ones” (Sinoway, 2012). These articles were chosen because workers in today’s businesses are trying positions themselves to be successful at home and in the workplace. Many workers identified as Millennials are looking to pursue careers that promote work-life balance because of their unwillingness to sacrifice their personal life over demands at work. Furthermore, organizations are trying to find ways to support work life balance to increase productivity and employee engagement.

Article Analysis

Groysberg and Abraham article was a study conducted by Harvard Business students over five years. In the article, “Manage Your Work, Manage Your Life,” Groysberg and Abrahams’ (2014) purpose is to compel one to define professional and personal success for themselves (p.60). One must understand that these definitions will change over time (Groysberg & Abrahams, 2014, p. 60). Success for one executive may be defined as being home for dinner each night. For another it may be having enough drive to balance the duties of work and home.

Groysberg and Abrahams (2014) concluded that in work and life one can expect three simple truths (p. 66). The first is that life happens to everyone. Most people believe they can handle work-life balance “until something is wrong” (Groysberg & Abrahams, 2014, p. 66). Some executives expressed the need for support at home when they needed care for aging parents or became ill themselves. Although life may take over, both men and women have been able to sustain high levels of success during such challenges (Groysberg & Abrahams, 2014, p. 60).

Secondly, there are multiple ways to be successful. According to Groysberg and Abrahams (2014), some people have detailed career plans, while some accept opportunities as they come. It is the same with one’s personal life (p. 66). One solution does not fit each individual or every family (Groysberg & Abrahams, 2014, p. 66). Groysberg and Abrahams (2014) stated, “you have to define what success means to you” (p. 60). One male executive stated that his “financial success” is validates his parent’s struggle and keeps his family from poverty (Groysberg & Abrahams, 2014, p. 61). Some boast about having “some degree of balance” between work and life, such as spending 10 minutes with their child at night (Groysberg & Abrahams, 2014, p. 61). However, according to Groysberg and Abrahams (2014), some women experience “the guilt of missing out” in their child’s life. Because of cultural norm of mothering, women experience emotional guilt while endeavoring to manage work and family (p. 62).

Finally, the third truth is no one can do it alone (Groysberg & Abrahams, 2014, p. 66). Groysberg and Abrahams (2014) asserted that a support network is most beneficial for handling issues at and outside work (p. 66). In order to manage family and professional life, a strong support team is required (p. 63). Groysberg and Abrahams added emotional support is equally important (p. 63). Some executives use paid assistance with their personal life; some trusted had the support of colleagues to be a support at work (p.63). Both men and women reported that the emotional support they received from their partners or spouses was the biggest contribution made to their careers (p.65).

According to Groysberg and Abrahams (2014), assumed these truths based on interviews which were conducted over five years with nearly 4,000 executives. This elite group of executives are better positioned to afford additional support to achieve work/life balance (p.66).

Sinoway’s article was a review he made on the life of Harvard Business professional, Howard Stevenson. In the article, “You Can’t Have It All,” Sinoway’s (2012) purpose is to help people understand the challenges that come when juggling work and life’s responsibilities. Sinoway compared work-life balance to juggling several fragile and hazardous items while walking on a balance beam (2012). And at some point, one