The manager’s guide to work-life balance

Leaders in the workplace are faced with the dual challenge of keeping workers both efficient and happy. These goals can sometimes seem at odds, but stressing the importance of the ever-elusive work-life balance is key to any 21st century company. Luckily, there are ways to bridge the balance gap without making huge changes that will impact your company’s overall workflow.

These little things can make a huge difference in ensuring your business retains key talent and gets the most out of team members. Just remember: a breakneck workpace is sometimes necessary, but happy employees are always more productive and efficient than tired ones in the long-term. (And we all know managers tend to be workaholics, so don’t forget to find some time for your own personal life!)

Employees are more relaxed when they know they’re on the same page with their managers. So schedule some time to check in with staff every few weeks for informal status updates and personal check-ins. It’s good management practice not only for making sure business is running smoothly, but you’ll also get an accurate gauge of the office’s morale at a given moment. Use that input to inform your management tactics and explore areas where there’s room for improvement or adjustments in your company policies.

In those regular meetings, discuss short- and medium-term goals that team members should be working towards, take note of them, and follow through to ensure they’re being met. Team members will almost always meet these goals, which creates a feedback loop of positivity, and gives employees confidence that they’re excelling at work. This positivity tells staff that they really can afford to step away completely when the time is right, rather than laying in bed at night stressing over their latest project.

In an age where work isn’t confined to the office, it’s important to acknowledge that work often bleeds into time spent at home answering emails and returning calls. So reduce employee burnout and let your staff know that it’s ok to truly check out during off-time (even if you sometimes have a hard time doing it yourself). Encourage your team to step away from their work inbox while they’re out of the office, and they’ll end up enjoying and appreciating their time away more. After all, it’s often ok to let an 8pm email go unanswered until the next morning.

It’s okay to expect your team members to burn the midnight oil sometimes—and those stressful periods, if handled properly, can build camaraderie and strengthen bonds—but it’s also important for managers to know when to take their foot off the accelerator. Employees will burn out if they’re faced with extraordinary burden all of the time, so cut them some slack when the company’s workload allows. Every once in a while, encourage a team member who’s been putting in good work to cut out of the office a bit early, work from home the next day, or take an afternoon off. They’ll appreciate it, and remember it the next time they’re asked to go the extra mile at work.