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Integrated Leadership

Ken Stern

Leaders feel pressure to put work first their entire careers

Integrated Leaders are doing something different
These pioneering leaders have navigated a constantly changing landscape – both at work and at home – to create a life that encompasses family, work, health, friends and personal interests in a meaningful arrangement.

Integrated Leaders Develop 21st Century Skills – 21st Century skills help leaders forge a new path. The unique combination of defining clear priorities, being more efficient, increasing the level of interdependence, and setting effective boundaries is what makes them so successful. Integrated leaders have also learned that “balance” isn’t a four letter word. They know that life will include periods of imbalance – a week, a month or even a year – but they have developed a different mindset and skill set to help them make the necessary changes and once again arrange things to feel more in balance.

21st Century Skills Benefit Leaders, Families and Organizations – Because of our work with Integrated Leaders, ThirdPath has developed an approach to help other professionals follow in their footsteps. Through our work we’ve also met a group of leaders who have taken this integrated mind-set and 21st century skill set a few steps further. We call these pioneers Whole Life Leaders.

Would you like to become an Integrated Leader or even Whole Life Leader? The first step is to get clear about what you want to make time for outside of work. No matter where you are on your career path, once you become more clear about this, you will find new and creative ways to approach work and all of your other life priorities and interests. Read “Brad’s” story to learn more about one father’s journey to becoming a Whole Life Leader.

Or take a look at the many resources we offer so you too can become a leader who lives and models an integrated approach to work and life.

Questions About Integrated Leadership

Q: What are the 21st century skills Integrated Leaders and Whole Life Leaders use?
This spring we will be publishing an article that highlights these 21st Century skills.  In short, it is the leader’s unique combination of defining clear priorities, becoming more efficient, increasing the level of interdependence, and setting effective boundaries – both at work and at home – that makes Integrated Leaders so successful.
Q: What’s the difference between an “Integrated Leader” and a “Whole Life Leader”?
Whole Life Leaders have created an integrated approach for themselves, and they have also created a partnership at home so their spouse can create an integrated solution. Whole Life Leaders work together as a team at home to step out of traditional gender roles and address the changing needs of work and family. Sometimes this means one parent – the father or mother – temporarily steps out of work or significantly reduces work to create the best solution for the family as a whole. But this is seen as one part of an on-going story where both parents see themselves as partners in caring for their children and meeting the financial needs of their family.
Q: Why does supporting both men and women to change increase the positive impact of Whole Life Leaders?
Too often organizations are slow to change – employees who put work first continue to receive preferential treatment.  Whole Life Leaders create a small but important leverage point to push back at this problem.  Instead of reinforcing a culture of overwork by freeing up one or both parents to put work first, Whole Life Leaders work as a team to prioritize the needs of family and set boundaries at work. Whole Life Leaders aren’t just changing the way we do work, they are also changing what happens at home.
Q: Do Whole Life Leaders all look the same?
No. Some intentionally create integrated career paths right from the start. Others learn about this late in their careers. Some have both parents work almost full time, others prefer to work reduced hours. Read our “Leadership Stories” to see how a number of these pioneers have already traveled down this path. Or read “Brad’s” story” to discover some of the lessons learned on one father’s journey to becoming a Whole Life Leader. Are you a single parent and Whole Life Leader?  Contact us  we want to hear your story.
Q: Can you make changes even if you work in an unsupportive workplace?
Yes. Let us help you! Read on for inspiration, join one of our professional groups, or take a look at one of the many resources we have available. Let us share our expertise with you and help you on your journey.

Whole Life Leaders

Let’s applaud every person and every leader who has pushed back at a system that rewards extreme jobs and chronic overwork! You are part of a growing group of people who truly understand that instead of a win-loose approach, you’ve discovered a way to be strategically responsive in our new 24/7 world and a more sustainable solution for you, your family and your organization!

Whole Life Leaders have taken this approach three steps further.

Whole life leaders are modeling and supporting progressive conversations at work. (click to read more)
Whole life leaders rely on their teams to create their own work/life balance. To achieve this they intentionally develop interdependence with and among their team members and they also help team members develop 21st century skills and an integrated mind set. By doing this, not only do they increase the chances of meeting their own goals for integration, the team also increases their capacity to develop win-win solutions that foster a thriving workplace and multidimensional lives.
Whole life leaders are creating more sustainable workplaces. (read more)
Our work with these unique and pioneering leaders has shown us that Whole Life Leaders are also passionate about making wider change in the world. Whether that’s creating a part time network in their organization, championing the work/life committee or participating in one of ThirdPath’s Pioneering Leaders groups – Whole Life Leaders are actively addressing the problems that can side track others from following in their footsteps.
Whole life leaders are initiating progressive conversations at home. (read more)
Whole Life Leaders aren’t just changing the way we do work, they are also changing what happens at home. Whole Life Leaders create a partnership at home so they can step out of traditional gender roles as they address the changing needs of work and family. Sometimes this means one parent – the father or mother – temporarily steps out of work or reduces work to create a workable solution for the family. But this is seen as one part of an on-going story where both parents see themselves as partners in caring for their children and meeting the financial needs of their family.

Why is this last point so important?

Too often organizations are slow to change – employees who put work first continue to receive preferential treatment. Whole Life Leaders create a small but important leverage point to push back at this problem. Instead of reinforcing a culture of overwork, by freeing up one or both parents to put work first, Whole Life Leaders work as a team to prioritize the needs of family and set boundaries at work.

Are you a Whole Life Leader or would you like to become one? Check out the many resources we have for leaders or read on to learn more about our Whole Life Leader community.

Whole Life Leader Community

You are not alone!  ThirdPath has a growing a community of Whole Life Leaders who are working together so we can learn from one another – leaders who want to be successful at work, and also have time and energy to be a father, mother, grandfather, husband, wife and community member.  Whether you are just starting your journey, or you have been committed to an integrated life your entire career, we’d love you to join our Whole Life Leader community.

Whole Life Leader Groups
Are you a Whole Life Leader – someone who has created a life that encompasses family, work, health, friends and personal interests in a meaningful arrangement?  Or would you like to become a leader who does this?   ThirdPath runs learning groups with male and female leaders who want to be successful at work and successful in their lives outside of work.  To learn more check our resources for integrated leaders.

Pioneering Leaders Groups
Are you a senior leader who would like to be part of a collaborative group exploring how we can support more men and women to become Whole Life Leaders? Group members explore key topics including how decisions that are made around careers and family are significantly tied to the retention of seasoned leadership – both for men and women. Membership provides a unique opportunity for personal and professional growth as well as a chance to gather cutting edge information to attract and retain the best talent.

May 2013 – Whole Life Leader Summit
Every two years we organize a day long event expressly designed for Whole Life Leaders.  Join us as we learn how to make integrated career paths the new reality for both men and women.

To learn more about any of these activities contact us and put “Whole Life Leader” in the subject heading. We’ll then be happy to get back in touch to answer your questions.

How to Get Started

Time and again we’ve learned the clearer you are about your work and life goals, the more success you will have in achieving them. This is doubly true if you are married or in a long term relationship.

Q: How clear are you and your partner about what’s important to you, both at work and at home?
Q; How skilled are you and your partner around how to redesign your work so you can succeed at work while also creating time and energy for your lives outside of work?
Q: How confident are you and your partner that you can achieve your preferred plan?
Q: If you don’t feel confident, what do you think are your roadblocks?

By first getting clear about your own goals, and then your goals as a couple, you can work together to address any challenges as you create your own unique “third path” – an integrated approach to work and life.

Want help getting started? Check out the many resources we have for leaders, or read one of our leadership stories to learn how other Whole Life Leaders began their journeys.

Leadership Stories


Laura

Laura-Iacona

Laura is a partner in a large public accounting firm recently promoted to head the audit practice. Work is important to her and drives her. But like many other professionals she also has an unwavering commitment to family. Because of this commitment to succeed at work and have time and energy for her life outside of work, Laura is an excellent example of a Whole Life Leader.

Bernie

Bernie

Bernie, the president and major shareholder in a well-established 13 person architect firm in New England decided to reduce his work to three days each week as part of a plan to phase into retirement but also to have time to care for his baby grandson. Now Bernie can look back and clearly see that the solution he put in place not only benefited his business it also benefited himself and his family.
Our Mission

Assist individuals, families and organizations in finding new ways to redesign work to create time for family, community and other life priorities. Develop a growing community of individuals, leaders and organizations to influence wider change - both within organizations and at the public policy level. Support a new mind-set where everyone can follow a "third path" - an integrated approach to work and life.

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Phone: 215.747.8790
Email: time4life (at) thirdpath.org

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