Consider balance, introspection, exploration of different desires and interests, many of which are not work-related, a kind of preventive medicine for the soul.
Provide a safe environment to express personal needs.
The fear of projecting weakness is a powerful undercurrent in corporate culture. Organizations that provide a safe environment to express fear and doubt and explore ways to address these concerns will defuse many potential retention challenges among employees who fear reprisal if they confide a desire to achieve more work-family balance, take off time to pursue a personal interest or take a new direction in their careers. Organizations need to make their employees feel comfortable to ask questions, confide doubts or concerns. More critically, organizations need to demonstrate they will treat these confidences appropriately and direct them toward a higher level of employee satisfaction, rather than use them as ?ammunition? at the next performance review.
Make ?renewal? a job requirement.
This may seem counter-intuitive. Force employees to take time off every so often to walk barefoot through the park. Or more substantively, strongly encourage them to pursue outside interests. Ask yourself if there is a member of your staff that sings in cabarets on the weekends.
planning jobs
