Review: Big Rocks: Balancing Life and Work - Book Report/Review Example

? Big Rocks: Balancing Life and Work of the of the Table of Contents Introduction 3 Review 3 Practical Value of the book 7 Conclusion 7 References 8 Introduction The book, “Big Rocks: Balancing life at work” penned by author, Gary S. Russell highlights the different aspects of balancing life at work. The book, in an easy-to-follow parable style, provides a critical analysis and practical tools that will help anyone to balance their time between life and work. The author states certain facts and ideas that disregard the traditional time management practices, thereby addressing issues such as, time imbalances, loss of loyalty and commitment in employees. The author also highlights the crucial aspects of the various ways in which business owners think about accommodating the needs of their employees. This book itself serves as an effective tool of valuable guidance to business leaders and employees in terms of adjusting and adapting the required in their way of thinking as well as their work approach, thereby applying new principles that are formulated in order to achieve a perfect balance between work and life (Russell, 2006). This report will involve a review of the book which will cater to provide a critical analysis of the ideas and principles which are reflected in the book by the author. Various aspects of balancing work and life will be highlighted and comments will also be made regarding the various approaches that can be adopted by organizational leaders and employees to achieve such balance. The following sections will involve the analysis of a particular research component set forth within the book and thereafter, comments will be made as to how this book will or might impact the author at the workplace as well as in everyday life. Finally, conclusion will be drawn as to whether this book will be referred to others or not. Review An acrobat is known for mastering the skill of juggling two or more objects in the air at one time, thereby tossing and catching them alternatively. Alongside that, they are also known for walking on a tightrope. The skills that they possess can provide essential guidance to today’s leaders and employees with respect to achieving a perfect balance in their work and personal life. The book explains that the most difficult task for an individual is to balance the time and focus between one’s career demands, personal obligations and family pleasures effectively. The author has suggested that the issue of properly balancing family, personal life and work is a pivotal exercise, which the individuals wished they had managed in a better and efficient way (Muna & Mansour, 2007). The book explains that in a society that is filled with commitments and conflicting responsibilities, achieving work-life balance has taken the shape of a predominant issue that prevails in the workplace. The factors which contribute to achieving work-life balance are renewed interest in personal lives and family values, global competition and ageing workforce. Positive thinking HR professionals thrive to find innovative ways to supplement the competitive advantage of their organization in the market. As a result of this practice, they find out that the challenges that they face while achieving a work-life balance more often than not offers a win-win solution. This ideas set forth by the author are in complete alignment with the statements made by Lockwood (2003). The book provides a very practical knowledge about various strategies implemented by individuals, in order to balance work and life. The author suggests that work-life balance has significant implications for professionals responsible for human resource management. This is particularly because it affects almost all the functions that are carried out by an HR such as, recruitment and retention, advancement and retirement. The author also states that HR professionals should adopt certain strategies and policies that take into consideration the rapidly changing demands of employees with the aim towards achieving a more balanced lifestyle. The ideas explored in the book also suggest that as a pre-requisite, the organizational culture should be developed in a manner which supports their employees, thereby helping them to achieve a balanced lifestyle. The recommendations as stated by Whitehall II in regards to balancing work and personal life were: Better leave arrangements that cater towards the care for children and the elderly. Maximizing time spent at home through flexible working hours. Reducing work-related travelling through encouraging work at home. In accordance with the escalating variety of family structures represented in the workforce in the new millennium, it is essential for the individuals to better understand the interface between family and work relationships and its resulting outcome in the workplace. Parasuraman & Greenhaus (2002) explained that, although sectors of the workforce may be subjected to distinctive work or family pressures, yet they only have few sources of support. This statement is in complete alignment with what Russell (2006) had explained in his book. Empirical researches have highlighted that some companies may perceive diversity and work-life balance as two different functions but in reality, the business case for diversity management is by and large the same for work-life balance (Woodward, 2007). One of the main facts explained in the book is that both work-life initiatives and diversity improve productivity, promote commitment within employee, result in very few employee relations challenges, and reduces the chances of unethical business practices. Working from home is a privilege available to the employees who can and want to balance their work and personal lives in an efficient way. In the recent times, it has been witnessed that more and more employers are providing flexibility to some employees to work from home particularly when it makes good business sense. The virtual working platform is now emerging as the new trend in job market of the twenty-first century, particularly because of the worldwide web of networking. Over the last few years, a change has been witnessed in the frame of mind of the employees whose current primary objective is to ensure that work does not hamper their commitments towards family, friends or community (O’Brien & Hayden, 2007). In fact, both can be managed in a thoroughly efficient way. Individuals nowadays do realize the fact that transformations in work structure come with a certain degree of cost and consequently, they are willing to be paid less in exchange for a better working life. It suggests the fact that individuals are more aware of the benefits of a perfect balance between their work life and personal life. The author in his book has explained that the cost that individuals bear while balancing work and life is increasing as far as the factors such as, retention, health care, safety and mistakes at work, productivity and personal satisfaction is concerned. It has been noticed that overworked employees experience or rather enjoy less success in their relationships with their closed ones, be it family or friend. In addition to that, they also suffer from sleep deprivation, immense stress, thereby deteriorating their job performance. These factors worsen their physical and mental health. Thus, it can be said that balancing work and life is a crucial factor that ensures the well being of an individual. The ideas explained by the author in this book are absolutely accurate as they are in complete alignment with the theories provided by other authors. The most important component highlighted in the book is the necessity of balancing life and work properly. The author explains that the initiative to achieve a balance between work and personal life can be taken at any point in an individual’s career between his graduations to retirement. Thus, after a thorough research of the book, it can surely be recommended that this initiative should be taken by an individual early in his life to enjoy the full pleasures of relationships, health, spirituality and success in work life. Practical Value of the book The book has helped me to have an in-depth insight about the necessity or rather, the benefits of balancing work and life in an efficient way. By studying this book, I have been able to identify the areas where I need to work upon in order to deliver good performance both in the work place as well as in my personal life. The ideas explained in the book have imbibed in me the knowledge regarding better time management which I can and will implement in my work life as well as my personal life in order to achieve a balance between them. I am thoroughly impressed by the book’s practicality and the nature of ideas that have been set forth, which when rightly applied will guarantee success to every individual as far as their personal and work life is concerned. Conclusion In order to conclude, it can be said that attaining a balance between work-life and personal life is an important factor that ensures the welfare of an individual. Individuals should take the initiative of achieving this balance at a very early stage in their life to experience the pleasures, both in their work place and personal life. This book serves as an effective guidance tool that will provide sufficient assistance to individuals who are already looking forward to attaining this balance and thus, I would strongly recommend this book to each and every individual who are at the threshold of their career. References Lockwood, N. R. (2003). Work/life balance: challenges and solution. Retrieved from http://www.ispi.org/pdf/suggestedReading/11_Lockwood_WorkLifeBalance.pdf Muna, F. A. & Mansour, N. (2007). Balancing work and personal life: the leader as acrobat. Journal of Management Development, 28(2), 121-133. O’Brien, T. & Hayden, H. (2007). Flexible work practices and the LIS sector: balancing the needs of work and life? Library Management, 29(3), 199-228. Parasuraman, S., & Greenhaus, J. H. (2002). Toward reducing some critical gaps in work-family research. Human Resource Management Review, 12(3), 299-312. Russell, G. F. (2006). Big Rocks: Balancing life at work. New York: Lifestyle Press. Woodward, D. (2007). Work-life balancing strategies used by women managers in British “modern” universities. Equal Opportunities International, 26(1), 6-17. Read More