Page 18 - Crossroads: September 2015 | Issue 9

John Gilkey
Branch Manager, Orange County Airport Office Consumer and Business Bank
Irvine, CA
I believe that it’s important to leave work at work. I give myself a time of day where I put work out of my mind and focus fully on my family. When I arrive home, I give myself a few minutes to decompress and then all of my attention goes to my wife and kids. I do similarly on vacation. Vacation is a time to relax and enjoy leisure time. You can’t do that if you are thinking about what is happening at work. I think that one of the most important aspects of my job is to train my staff to handle what I delegate to them. They can handle my time off because I have trained them to do so. I need to place my trust in them and help them grow as future leaders. It all boils down to being present. It is just as important to be present at home as it is at work. Build your team by being present at work and that should allow you to be present at home.
Valerie Akin
Administrative Specialist, Danville Office Consumer and Business Bank
Danville, CA
Finding a work-life balance isn’t necessarily about trying to keep a scale evenly filled with either/or. To me, it’s more about doing what I really love, so it’s not really a bal- ance where I am trying to juggle, but a blend that meshes with the life I lead. I could not attempt such a blend without three support systems. One consists of my family and friends, and as a mother and wife I rely on this greatly in order to give me peace of mind in knowing that my foundation is safe and secure. Without it I wouldn’t be able to focus on any other aspect of my life. The second is my colleagues, who are all team players. We support each other in order to focus and grow within our profession, in many cases helping one another reach the next level in where we want to be. Then there is the support system within my own mind, which reminds me to take care of myself so that I can be strong and present.
Jun Tashiro
Analyst, Corporate Research New York, NY
I’m not a fan of the term “work-life balance” because of the connotation that work is at odds with one’s life. I prefer the term “work-life integration.”
The binary, black-and-white view of work vs. life is less constructive than viewing life as being made up of multiple parts of which work is a single component. These parts may vary from one person to another, but broadly speaking, they are physical health and wellness, family, work and career, and social and community involvement.
I feel the most successful people are those who can effectively integrate these four components. One of the good things about MUFG is that the bank provides a lot of opportunities for us to do so. Maybe your boss is an avid runner and you both sign up for the JP Morgan Corporate Challenge. This further develops your relationship with your boss while you exercise, meet new people within the bank, and are part of the community of runners. Or perhaps you take advantage of Bring Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, bringing your children into the office or supporting colleagues who do so. The many opportunities to volunteer in the community with our colleagues also integrate work and life.
18
For internal use only Crossroads