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"Pride only goes the length one can spit." - Congo Proverb

The Happy Workaholic

Stewart D. Friedman and Sharon Lobel have a new take on workaholics that they presented in "The Happy Workaholic:  A role model for employees," in the Academy of Management Executive (2003, Vol. 17, No. 3; www.aomonline.org.  In brief, this is their point of view:

"Most business leaders think they must be role models to be effective executives.  They have to 'walk the talk.'  A workaholic executive, known to work 15-hour days, would seem disingenuous and engender employee skepticism if she claimed that her organization supports a 'balanced life' for employees.  Right?  Well, not necessarily,

"Contrary to popular belief, 'Happy Workaholics,' as we call them, can advocate for employees to realize both their company's goals and what matters to them in their personal lives.  Happy Workaholics serve as role models not for 'balance' in the usual sense, but, rather, for authenticity.

"Happy Workaholics closely examine their core values about work and personal life.  They focus on acting in accord with these values.  They know 'in their bones' the benefits of expressing their values in their day-to-day actions.  And they realize that not everyone's values match theirs.  Armed with this knowledge, they muster the credibility needed to genuinely encourage employees to act according to their own values.

"Employees flourish when senior leaders help them focus on what matters most not only at work but in all aspects of their lives -- at home, in their communities, and in their pursuit of physical, emotional, and spiritural well-being.  The happy result:  committed people driving hard to achieve superior performance."

If you are an unhappy workaholic, you may want to check out the Exchange Articles on CD Collection on "Avoiding Burnout," at:
http://mail.ccie.com/go/eed/0229

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