Quotation of the Week: Hamish McLennan

The Etc. section of Bloomberg Businessweek had five paragraphs on the CEO of Young and Rubicam, and his recent decision to leave his post.  Worklife balance is important to a lot of people, and here's an unusual CEO for whom family was the deciding factor. 

My daughter is 13, and my son is 11. . . .  I don't want them to leave home and say, "Well, you had a great career, but we don't know you."  At 44, I'd rather be known as a good father than a good CEO.

--Hamish McLennan, CEO

Boundaries between work and home used to be fairly clear.  Today, however, work typically invades personal life.  As a consequence, maintaining work/life balance is no simple task.

It's very tempting to rack up hours at work, especially if a promotion or a raise are are in the offing.  According to the Mayo Clinic, the consequences are numerous.  

Fatigue. When you're tired, your ability to work productively and think clearly may suffer — which could take a toll on your professional reputation or lead to dangerous or costly mistakes.

Lost time with friends and loved ones. If you're working too much, you may miss important family events or milestones. This can leave you feeling left out and may harm relationships with your loved ones. It's also difficult to nurture friendships if you're always working.

Increased expectations. If you regularly work extra hours, you may be given more responsibility. This may lead to only more concerns and challenges.

In all my years of consulting around the country, I've only heard of one other very senior officer giving up his job for his family.  Executive positions can be all-consuming, but you can't have global roles and spend much time with your kids.  I'm finding more and more managers and execs taking time out for the kids.  Few get this kind of public attention.  McLennan sets an example that more could mimic.