The phrase “work-life balance” has garnered significant attention in recent years. This applies to all genders, but it has been discussed with some unconscious bias toward women leaders.
My view as Sheetal Deepak, a Strategic PMO Head – Version 1, and a woman on this has been very simple. If you want to be a leader, it starts from home. Home makers, both male and female, are natural multitaskers. Working and also taking care of the home can be well balanced if we harness the following:
Expectation Setting: It is key to align our goals with our parents/partners and keep it simple
Ability to Multitask: Balance your time to achieve more in less time with good quality by prioritizing
Introspection / Learning: It is key to do self-introspection once in a while both from a personal and professional standpoint. It helps us to adjust our behaviour to our surroundings and situation.
I was able to find the right balance between my work and personal life by having an open conversation with my husband and daughter. I was able to discuss my passion and get their support and also contribute to their passion.
As a girl coming from a small town near Goa, my initial days of management lessons were from my parents. They made me learn time management, being good at what we do, doing the right things in the right way etc., This laid the foundation and once I moved to Bengaluru for my professional career, I was able to balance things in the right way. Now with over 18 years of experience in the IT industry, I am able to focus on my work and family in a balanced way.
Things do not always go our way, but I was able to learn, adapt and at the same time discuss with my management, colleagues and my family when it became difficult and when I find it a struggle to stay on top of things. This gave way for open communication, feedback and course corrections.
We have seen very successful diverse leaders across industries, and it is time to take this to the next level. There are many inspirations for each of us, but for me it is simple, I want my daughter to be inspired by me.
I feel that India has come a long way in embracing diverse leadership and with effective strategies, having the right support and prioritizing things. I believe in next few years, we can stop using words like women leaders and embrace diverse leadership as a unified country.
Mother’s Day is always special. As I look back on how I have learned from my mother and how I am grooming my daughter, it gives me immense pleasure and motivation to achieve more. The role of a mother never stops, and Mother’s Day helps us reflect on what we have achieved and what more we can accomplish.
Authored by Sheetal Deepak is Strategic PMO Head – Version 1
