Page 17 - Crossroads: September 2015 | Issue 9

September 2015
Kevin Hara
Vice President, Tacoma Office Consumer and Business Bank Tacoma, WA
Earlier in my career I struggled to balance my work and home life. I was overwhelmed with management, events, networking, and compliance responsibilities. I worked long hours, even weekends, thinking that energy and effort would prevail. I would bounce around doing multiple things at a time while responding to every email. I gave my family half my attention, and thought I don’t have enough time for everything.
Then I realized that Time is never available — it’s created. I now create time for myself, my family, friends, and employees. I choose to spend time wisely, as it is our most precious asset. Once it’s gone, you can’t get it back.
I help my staff understand how valuable their time is as well. The company compen- sates, promotes, and recognizes us for performance. When managers collaborate with staff on how they spend their time at work, we ensure that they are aligned to the right priorities that will further their success and development.
Alyssa Padron
Senior Communications Specialist
Human Resources and General Affairs, Asian Corporate Banking Los Angeles, CA
Building true friendships in the office. I’ve been lucky enough to have met some of my best friends while working with MUFG. They can always relate to any work issue and help bring perspective. If I ever feel too overwhelmed at work they are usually available for a coffee or lunch break to take my mind off work and disconnect.
Last year, to help decompress from all the chaos that went with integration, a group of co-workers (friends — feels funny to refer to them as co-workers) took advantage of a three-day weekend and headed to Mammoth Lakes for a relaxing vacation. We were able to hike, fish, and swim, never once mentioning work.
Photo: At Devil’s Postpile National Monument in Mammoth (from left): Arika Ishio, Alyssa Padron, Hiromi Namikawa, Miyuki Tanabe.
Richard Chacon
Director, Supplier Diversity & Development San Francisco, CA
Returning home from a recent business trip that included weekend travel, I immedi- ately started working on my home-office PC — on a Sunday. As I sat in front of that PC monitor I glanced out the window, and there were my wife and the dog playing fetch. Why wasn’t I with them?
During my business travel I had all the tools I needed to stay connected: my iPhone, iPad, laptop for emails, meetings, tasks, telephone calls. Now I was home. Where was my work-life balance?
Then and there, I shut it all down, and guess what? It was all still there on Monday morning!
My next vacation will be a real vacation as I shut it down again, with I’m sure the same result: The bank will still be there and my mind and body will be able to handle what’s next.
And let’s not forget how your team handles work-life balance.
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