Dial Back or Dial Up Your Career
by Lois MelbourneAt the fantastic conference “Forbes Executive Women’s Forum,” Deloitte’s Chairman and CEO, Sharon Allen, discussed the firm’s ability to let people “Dial Back” on their current work schedule without destroying their career. This allows employees to cut their hours, possibly to even a project based arrangement, and then, when they are ready, come back swinging without the stigma of taking time off.
This benefits employees because they can pursue other needs or interests (a little more about this later). And it benefits Deloitte because the organization keeps talented people from leaving permanently – less brain drain, fewer recruiting fees, and the practice attracts the best and brightest of balanced people.
I’d even go so far as to say it benefits society. Employees may need to “dial back” for a number of reasons: maybe to personally raise your children as preschoolers and avoid becoming a stranger to them; (happier family, good for society). On a personal note, my husband, sister, and I took very active roles in helping my Mom and my mother-in-law in their final years of battling cancer. All of us benefited from the extra time and love shared.
You might want to take the time to pursue a mission sabbatical. Former Microsoft Employee, John Wood, took a sabbatical that led to “Room to Read” (www.Roomtoread.org) one of the most outstanding non-medical outreaches I have ever encountered. One of our customers, Eli Lilly, has seen employees take sabbaticals to 3rd world countries to provide medical care. I am sure the adrenalin rush from those trips brought new fervor and ideas back to Indianapolis.
On the same panel as Ms Allen was Margaret Robertson from Withers/Withers Bergman, an impressive law firm that allows career professionals to restructure their jobs for more flexible time. They were about to lose a talented man with highly sought after expertise because the demand of his current job did not allow him to maintain a practice schedule as a concert classical musician. A close-minded manager would have challenged his dedication to the firm. An enlightened manager asked him to take advantage of the firm’s flex time policies. The employee said he thought that was only for “new moms.” He still works for the law firm – and continues to play concerts.
Something to think about.
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