When CEOs are suffering from personal problems, the effect of support from family and friends is 53% to 79% weaker than support from fellow CEOs in restoring the leaders‘ overall effectiveness, say Michael L. McDonald of the University of Texas and James D. Westphal of the University of Michigan.
Personal problems such as conflict with children or marital issues hurt CEOs‘ effectiveness because they prompt the chief executives to pull back on important interpersonal behaviors involving subordinate managers, the researchers say.
Working from home can be tough. Without the structure or the camaraderie ofoffice mates, it’s easy to feel disconnected or to let work run your life. If you have a flexible schedule, consider these three things to make your work life easier:
- Clearly delineate your workday. Make a schedule and stick to it. Without boundaries between work and non-work time, you’ll feel guilty if you’re not at your desk.
- Start your day right. When you don’t have to clock in by 9, it’s tempting to fritter your time away. Make your mornings time for work to get a jump on the day.
- Give yourself time off. Working alone can be intense. Don’t feel guilty about not working a full 8-hour day. Do what you need to get your work done and then clock out.
Being unemployed can be unnerving. But don’t try to ease your anxiety by pounding the pavement 40 hours a week. In fact, don’t spend more than one or two hours a day looking for a job.Instead, spend your time building relationships and doing things you care about.
Most people find work through their networks, not job postings. Go out to lunch with former colleagues, call up old friends, or work on a volunteer basis. The key is to broaden and deepen your network so that people will notice your passion, commitment, and skill. Then they will either hire you, or help you get hired.
