McCombs Alumni Network News

The Women in Business Leadership Conference hosted their annual event Friday, Feb. 20 at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center. In her opening keynote address, Gayle Anderson, CFO of Match.com, cautioned that your job is just one aspect of your life—whether or not you choose to have children. She has learned five key things throughout her career that have helped her maintain the elusive work-life balance.

1) Surround yourself with good people—personally and professionally. You don’t have to do it all. It is OK to ask for help. Be sure to take credit for your contribution to a project, no matter how small. You don’t have to do it all to take your portion of the credit.

2) We all have to figure out how to blow our own horn. However, you are judged by your words, so choose wisely. Find an effective way to express yourself to ensure people perceive you as intended.

3) Plan, prepare, and prioritize. Sometimes work will come first—and that is OK. Communicate with your family when this happens. Set up your support system and plan a time when family will come first and hold yourself to it.

4) Sometimes you plan and prioritize and there will still be chaos. You just have to embrace it. Let go of the small stuff. Don’t beat yourself up if it all doesn’t get done. You will never feel 100% in each area. If you make a mistake, it is an opportunity to learn.

5. Don’t forget to have something outside of work that centers you. This can be things like religion, yoga or exercise. It eases tension and helps with other areas of life. More about WBLC…