Work Life Balance.   A popular buzz phrase in corporate life.   Casually mentioned in conversations by managers and engineers alike.   Used lots in presentations and websites.   And HR friendly.

But how does it happen?   And how does it feel?

Over the past couple weeks, I've seen several examples of where WLB had not just happened.   Instead, it had to be managed, consciously.   It involved individuals looking to their team for support.   It included sharing and managing ownership of job responsibilities across teams.   It meant open communication, partnering, and trusting in others.

I think most people will agree work often gets in the way of life.  

But there are also times when "life" simply gets in the way of work.   Things happen.   Family takes priority.   Health gets priority.   Life changes get priority.   That's life!

What I have seen is that it is easy for people to deal with work taking priority.   But when life needs to be given priority, maybe the fact that a paycheck is attached to work, or project deadlines are looming in the distance, or teams are understaffed, or any number of other concerns can result in feelings of guilt when one turns their focus away from work for the moment.

This is just one example of when MANAGING work life balance becomes critical.   Helping employees recognise that it's OK to focus on life and defocus on work.   That it's OK to take care of non-work priorities.   That sitting at work worrying about "real life" is not accomplishing anything.

Work Life Balance.   Cool catchy phrase.   However, it's not always as easy as it sounds.   Sometimes, just sometimes, the balancing act has to be worked to give it true life.