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2 takeaways from this thread and the replies:
1. If you’re a FGO with a busy job and a family, figure out what works for you and manage your time however you want.
2. Subordinates’ personal time should still be respected. Outlook has several handy features to help you do this. https://twitter.com/nocgarr/status/1253850511297720320
1. If you’re a FGO with a busy job and a family, figure out what works for you and manage your time however you want.
2. Subordinates’ personal time should still be respected. Outlook has several handy features to help you do this. https://twitter.com/nocgarr/status/1253850511297720320
To expand a bit:
Unless lives are on the line, family should be your top priority. Set the example by leaving at 1500 every now and then to go to your kids’ game or anniversary dinner. Allow your subordinates to do the same (or make them).
Unless lives are on the line, family should be your top priority. Set the example by leaving at 1500 every now and then to go to your kids’ game or anniversary dinner. Allow your subordinates to do the same (or make them).
Now that said, certain things still have to be done. Maybe the trade off for leaving the office at 1500 for a Little League game is that you have to review some slides or read some emails after the kids have gone to bed.
Or maybe you’re just one of those weirdos who’s more energetic and productive late in the day (definitely not me). I’ve come to realize the importance of understanding your individual rhythm and adjusting your work schedule accordingly (to the degree that you can).
So, taking into account family and individual energy ebb and flow, along with requirements out of your control, you’ve got to figure out how to manage your time. There’s no one size fits all, and you may find yourself doing work at odd hours.
You can do this and still respect your subordinates time and business-hours boundaries. I personally do it by working offline. Bring the laptop home, review products, and write emails which then sit in the outbox until the next morning when I slap the laptop back on the dock
Another technique if you can’t work offline is setting outbound emails to not send until a certain time (like 0600 on the next work day). It’s a little thing, but it shows that you care about boundaries.
Resisting the urge to call or text outside of business hours takes a little more willpower, but I’m still all about harnessing the technology. Right now it’s the weekend, but on Monday morning at 0900, my phone is going to blow up with reminders I’ve set to “call X about Y”
Obviously, this doesn’t include stuff that’s real world and time sensitive - that’s why commanders have CCIR and wake up criteria (and I’d be willing to bet the command and staff slides are nowhere on that list)
Bottom line, what these CPTs and LTs are pointing out is correct. Let them have balance and boundaries, and they may actually stay in the military beyond their initial commitment. Set the example yourself so that they see there’s more to being an FGO than divorces and office cots
