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Writer's pictureHeather Higgins

Finding Balance: Janae's Journey

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught in the never-ending cycle of tasks, deadlines, and responsibilities. Our lives are a constant juggle of professional and personal roles, each demanding its own share of time and energy. The stories of Janae, Bree, and Helen highlight the unique pressures we face and offer valuable insights into resilience, balance, and personal growth. Let's take a deeper dive into Janae's situation.


Janae’s experience reveals that even a supportive personal life can't always compensate for professional pressures. Despite a strong relationship with her partner and happy, grown children, the demands of her job are taking a toll on her well-being. Long work hours and high expectations from corporate can lead to burnout, underscoring the need to balance professional responsibilities with personal health and relationships.


The good news: Janae is already carving out time for self-care practices such as exercise, meditation, or hobbies. She understands how these activities reduce stress and increase her overall well-being. Janae is also a great communicator. She encourages open communication within her team and knows this will help identify and allow any issues to be addressed promptly. She works hard to foster a supportive and collaborative work environment to build team cohesion and enhance customer service.


The not so good news: Although she knows the value, Janae often finds herself cutting workouts short or forcing them into her schedule at night when they are just one more thing to do and not soul filling. And while communication is good with her team, there is a significant disconnect with her boss. Looking for guidance and support, Janae asked for regular check-in sessions with her boss, but he seems unwilling or unsure of how to help her.


The Only Person You Can Change or Control is YOU!


In the quest for balance and fulfillment, Janae must recognize the only person she can truly change and control is herself. By focusing on her own values and actions, how she can positively influence her team and create a more harmonious work environment? What does she need to be successful and what gifts and talents does she have in her skillset? She needs more time or solutions to figure this out. What does she know...relationships are why she does shat she does. Exceptional customer service is at her core. She loves to solve problems creatively and personal growth. Now to find solutions in alignment with her values.


Practice What You Preach

Looking for ways to develop herself, her team and brainstorm solutions is a great place to start. As a group, take a walk through nature, sit around a campfire, or participate in a laughter yoga session together - and then work together where all team members have a voice and can develop strategies together to meet corporate directives and customer demands. Assigning tasks that align with each team member’s skills and passions, Janae fosters a sense of purpose and engagement.


Bring in outside help and training. Understanding team strengths and needs can further enhance productivity and job satisfaction. By identifying skills gaps and investing in group and individual training Janae can cultivate a growth oriented and supportive environment, benefiting both herself and her team.


These actions not only build a more competent and confident team but will also lightens Janae's workload as her team will be able to take on more responsibilities and create workflows to accomplish the tasks.


Engaging Customers as Part of the Solution


Involving customers in the problem-solving process can lead to innovative solutions and enhanced satisfaction. Janae can bring her customers into the fold by actively seeking their feedback and encouraging their participation in shaping the products and services offered.


Whether it is establishing a feedback channel, focus groups or forming a customer advisory board, bringing customers into the solution loop can yield valuable perspectives, foster a sense of partnership and collaborative environment that drives continuous improvement, strengthens customer relationships and ensures time is spent more effective and efficiently.


By creating customer service plans based on direct customer feedback, Janae can streamline her workload, allowing her team to take on more responsibilities and efficiently manage tasks, ultimately improving her work-life balance and serving customers more effectively.


Create a Supportive Community

Building a supportive community is crucial for navigating life's challenges and achieving personal and professional growth. Being willing to look beyond the normal support systems is crucial. Surrounding yourself with individuals who inspire and uplift you can provide invaluable encouragement and motivation. For Janae, fostering such a community means connecting with mentors, peers, and friends who share her values and goals.


By engaging in open and honest communication, she can create a network where members support each other's endeavors and offer constructive feedback. Further, participating in professional groups, attending workshops, and joining social clubs can help Janae expand her circle of positive influences.


A supportive community not only provides emotional and practical support but also encourages accountability and continuous learning. With a strong network of inspiring individuals, we can all can draw strength and inspiration, enabling us to thrive both personally and professionally.


Today's Takeaway


Aligning solutions with our core values creates a more happy, fulfilled life because it will build our self-belief, trust and strengthen our personal confidence and value.


The only person we can control is ourself. While a strong personal life can help mitigate professional stress, it’s essential to remember that we are in control of our own destiny and choose our actions. 


The key takeaway from Janae's experience is investing time in building supportive, capable teammates is essential. Relying on these professional relationships for inspiration and support, and leveraging them to creatively solve problems.







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