CEO of Me: Creating a Life That Works in the Flexible Job Age (paperback)

You are the CEO of your life: you, and nobody else. You can establish the new rules that will help you achieve true balance between work and the rest of your life. And if you don't do it, nobody else will. Now is the time to take control, and this is the book that will get you there. CEO of Me is like no other "work-life balance" book you've ever seen: there are no clichés here, and no one-size-fits all solutions. Instead, Drs. Ellen Kossek and Brenda Lautsch help you identify which of six worklife "patterns" you fit into and how to move towards a pattern that's more productive and comfortable for you, one step at a time. As leaders of North America's largest research projects on work/life balance, Kossek and Lautsch are singularly well-qualified to write this book. Drawing on their unparalleled research insights, they show how to identify the personal triggers that cause you the greatest stress...make the small changes that make the biggest difference...make technology work for you, not against you...redraw the lines between work and family as your life changes...master powerful strategies for managing yourself, your colleagues, and your supervisors...leverage emerging work options that are available to our generation for the first time. The authors' radical new approach will transform the way you view both your work and your life and help you make the practical changes that lead to true fulfillment Cover 1 Contents 10 Preface 18 Chapter 1 Are You the CEO of Your Working Life? 24 Do You Want to Change How You Are Balancing Work and Personal Life? 24 You Are the CEO of Your Life Starting Today! 27 To Make a Change, Begin Your Self-Reflective Journey by Conducting a “Life Bucket Analysis” 34 Why Change Is Tough 37 Chapter 2 Knowing Your Flexstyle 40 Flexstyles: The Good and Bad Ways We Manage Relationships Between Work and Personal Life 40 Types of Flexstyles 42 What’s Your Flexstyle? Where Do You Fit In? 54 Self-Assessment: Identifying Your Flexstyle 55 Closing 57 Chapter 3 Weighing the Tradeoffs 58 Erin’s Story: Addicted to Work First 59 Preparing for Change: Understanding the Tradeoffs of Different Flexstyles 60 Creating a Life That Works 63 Chapter 4 Tradeoffs of Using Flexibility or Higher Work-Life Integration 64 Cynthia: Profile of a Reluctant Reactor 64 Alyssa’s Story of a Fusion Lover 68 Tradeoffs of Integrating Flexstyles 69 Special Considerations for Reactors 71 For Integrators: Self-Assessment Tools on Tradeoffs 72 Chapter 5 Tradeoffs of Compartmentalizing Work and Personal Life 78 Firsters: Making Your Priorities Clear Wherever You Are 78 Family Firsters 79 Work Firsters 82 Captives 83 For Separators: Weighing the Tradeoffs in Your Life 88 Chapter 6 Tradeoffs of Volleying Between Work and Family 92 Sarah’s Story: Striving to Protect “Quality Time” 93 Quality Timers’ Tradeoffs and Strategies for Making Life Work 94 Chapter 7 Changes Everyone Can Make to Improve Quality of Life 108 Small Steps You Can Take to Begin to Gain Control 108 Step 1: Self-Monitoring 110 Step 2: Developing a Commitment to Change 113 Step 3: Envisioning Alternatives 118 Step 4: Creating the Right Context for Change 120 Step 5: Experimentation 122 Conclusion 123 Chapter 8 Tailoring Change to Your Particular Flexstyle 126 Gaining Control, Countering Tradeoffs,and Exploring Flexstyle Options 126 Change Strategy 1: Gaining Control 127 Change Strategy 2: Reducing the Disadvantages of Your Current Flexstyle 133 Change Strategy 3: Exploring New Flexstyles 139 Conclusion 148 Chapter 9 Negotiating a New Flexstyle and a Life That Works on Your Terms 152 Negotiation: Finding Your Voice 152 The New Deal Larry Wants 154 Preparation Negotiation Tactics 155 Collaboration Tactics 163 Final Thoughts 168 Chapter 10 Not Going It Alone: Making Sustainable Change at Your Workplace 172 Taking the Risk to Establish New Norms at Your Workplace 172 Clean Up Your Own Backyard and Neighborhood 174 Understand the Challenges of Those in Most Need 175 Time for Change 180 Dialogue to Change Attitudes and Culture 181 Improve Work Processes 187 Looking to the Future 190 Appendix: Flexstyle Web Site and Overview of Assessments 192 Flexstyle Web Site 192 Sample Qualitative Interview Questions 192 Overview of Survey Instrument 194 Notes 202

you Are The Ceo Of Your Life: You, And Nobody Else. You Can Establish The New Rules That Will Help You Achieve True Balance Between Work And The Rest Of Your Life. And If You Don't Do It, Nobody Else Will. Now Is The Time To Take Control, And This Is The Book That Will Get You There. Ceo Of Me Is Like No Other Work-life Balance Book You've Ever Seen: There Are No Clichés Here, And No One-size-fits All Solutions. Instead, Drs. Ellen Kossek And Brenda Lautsch Help You Identify Which Of Six Worklife Patterns You Fit Into And How To Move Towards A Pattern That's More Productive And Comfortable For You, One Step At A Time. As Leaders Of North America's Largest Research Projects On Work/life Balance, Kossek And Lautsch Are Singularly Well-qualified To Write This Book. Drawing On Their Unparalleled Research Insights, They Show How To Identify The Personal Triggers That Cause You The Greatest Stress...make The Small Changes That Make The Biggest Difference...make Technology Work For You, Not Against You...redraw The Lines Between Work And Family As Your Life Changes...master Powerful Strategies For Managing Yourself, Your Colleagues, And Your Supervisors...leverage Emerging Work Options That Are Available To Our Generation For The First Time. The Authors' Radical New Approach Will Transform The Way You View Both Your Work And Your Life And Help You Make The Practical Changes That Lead To True Fulfillment.

publishers Weekly

in The Always-available Age Of Blackberries, More And More Of Even The Most Accomplished Individuals Struggle To Achieve A Balance Between The Demands Of Work And Personal/family Life. Kossek And Lautsch, Professors Who Have Long Been Studying The Success And Failure Of Various Flextime Work Arrangements, Have Made Some Interesting Discoveries: Satisfaction With Work/life Balance Depends Less On Gender, Family Situation And Occupation Than On How People Self-manage Their Careers. Thus The Authors Have Mapped Out The Most Common Flexstyles And Offer Practical Solutions For Drawing The Line Between Work And Family To Create A Better Life In Both Arenas. The Book Offers Self-assessment Questionnaires To Help Readers Work Out If They Are Integrators, Separators, Or Volleyers, Depending On What Life Role Is Most Important To Them, And Provides Strategies, Tips And Tools From There. The Authors' Motivational, Encouraging Tone Is Infectious, The Advice Solid And Easy To Implement. Frazzled Readers May Benefit From This Helpful And Wise Approach. (jan.)

copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

This is the eBook version of the printed book. If the print book includes a CD-ROM, this content is not included within the eBook version.You are the CEO of your life: you, and nobody else. You can establish the new rules that will help you achieve true balance between work and the rest of your life. And if you don't do it, nobody else will. Now is the time to take control, and this is the book that will get you there. CEO of Me is like no other'work-life balance'book you've ever seen: there are no clichés here, and no one-size-fits all solutions. Instead, Drs. Ellen Kossek and Brenda Lautsch help you identify which of six worklife'patterns'you fit into and how to move towards a pattern that's more productive and comfortable for you, one step at a time. As leaders of North America's largest research projects on work/life balance, Kossek and Lautsch are singularly well-qualified to write this book. Drawing on their unparalleled research insights, they show how to identify the personal triggers that cause you the greatest stress...make the small changes that make the biggest difference...make technology work for you, not against you...redraw the lines between work and family as your life changes...master powerful strategies for managing yourself, your colleagues, and your supervisors...leverage emerging work options that are available to our generation for the first time. The authors'radical new approach will transform the way you view both your work and your life and help you make the practical changes that lead to true fulfillment. You are the CEO of your life: you, and nobody else. You can establish the new rules that will help you achieve true balance between work and the rest of your life. And if you don't do it, nobody else will. Now is the time to take control, and this is the book that will get you there. CEO of Me is like no other work-life balance book you've ever seen: there are no clichés here, and no one-size-fits all solutions. Instead, Drs. Ellen Kossek and Brenda Lautsch help you identify which of six worklife patterns you fit into and how to move towards a pattern that's more productive and comfortable for you, one step at a time. As leaders of North America's largest research projects on work/life balance, Kossek and Lautsch are singularly well-qualified to write this book. Drawing on their unparalleled research insights, they show how to identify the personal triggers that cause you the greatest stress...make the small changes that make the biggest difference...make technology work for you, not against you...redraw the lines between work and family as your life changes...master powerful strategies for managing yourself, your colleagues, and your supervisors...leverage emerging work options that are available to our generation for the first time. The authors' radical new approach will transform the way you view both your work and your life and help you make the practical changes that lead to true fulfillment. Are you the CEO of your working life? Knowing your flexstyle Weighing the trade-offs Trade-offs of using flexibility for higher work-life integration Tradeoffs of compartmentalizing work and personal life Trade-offs of volleying between work and family Changes everyone can make to improve quality of life Tailoring change to your particular flexstyle Negotiating a new flexstyle and a life that works on your terms Not going it alone: making sustainable change at your workplace Appendix.