Work-life balance in a multinational oil company

One of the key issues of the new economy is stress. In an economy that depends on creative intelligence and commitment, supporting work-life balance can be fundamental to ensuring that customers get ‘at-ease quality’ in their service and solutions.

Working with the CEO we developed a programme for managers that provided more than just personal and organisational stress management. It also helped them listen more effectively to the needs of the people working with them, and indeed to become more aware of their own needs. This led to significant breakthroughs.

Once the work-life balance issues were understood we worked with managers and teams to develop skills for life management. These included awareness, priority management, negotiation and delegation, and constructive communication.

The result was that individuals, groups and organisations learned to integrate work and other areas of their lives in ways which they believed would enhance their potential as human beings at home and work.

Angus Jenkinson is author of From Stress to Serenity: Gaining Strength in the Trials of Life, Sophia Books, 2003