Making work-life balance work for you

Imagine the following scenario: It is Friday afternoon and you’re looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend, perhaps counting down the time until you can pack up and head home. But then your manager approaches you with bad news: the project is behind schedule and there is a risk of things going horribly wrong. You are personally needed to work over the weekend to try and help bring the project back on track, and you won’t be able to take a day off next week in lieu. What would your immediate reaction to this news be? Disappointment perhaps, or a sense of unfairness that your weekend is being taken away from you?

Before I continue with this anecdote I should point out that this is by no means a common occurrence here at Capgemini. Nonetheless, this is the scenario I found myself in last week on my current project. My initial reaction, inwardly, was of course disappointment that I wouldn’t get to go back home that weekend, or even a day off to relax. It was even tempting to make an excuse as to why I wouldn’t be able to come in, particularly since I did genuinely have plans. But a sense of pride can be a powerful motivator. It was clear that the team were relying on my knowledge and skills to drive the project forward over Saturday and Sunday. It also demonstrated the confidence and trust my project manager has in my ability to work without supervision.

In my previous blog post, I mentioned the importance of versatility and adapting yourself when the situation requires it. This versatility does not pertain exclusively to expanding your skill-set and knowledge, but also to when you work and, on occasion, your work-life balance. Capgemini strongly encourages a healthy balance, and will always address imbalances when they occur. Maintaining a healthy balance is essential to your happiness and performance, and a burned-out employee is not something anyone wants to see.
Despite this, on high-profile projects you will sometimes find yourself in the situation where more is asked of you.

Rather than grin and bear it, it pays handsomely instead to see it as an opportunity to really show what you can do. Work in the evenings and weekends can be much more close-knit and quiet, compared to the hustle and bustle of regular working hours, and individual effort is considerably easier to recognise. It will also help to raise your profile, and possibly lead to a greater variety of work that will stretch you a little more – though it’s definitely worth remembering to keep things in moderation. You still need your down-time!

The kind of career you may choose to pursue at Capgemini can be a demanding one, with more than its fair share of travel and occasionally long hours. However it is also a meritocracy where those who are willing to stick their neck out and get their hands dirty will find their endeavours rewarded, and their achievements acknowledged in full. Should you be considering a career at Capgemini, or consulting in general, you will almost certainly find yourself in my situation on many occasions during the (hopefully) long course of your career. Just remember that what can seem like a burden can always be turned into an opportunity for those who can afford to be flexible enough to seize it. The lucky few who always seem to get the best opportunities probably earned them during one long weekend, in what they thought was a thankless task. Not always the case!