The Crodie Files Podcast- For Administrative Assistants and Business Support Professionals
The Crodie Files is a podcast hosted by two career Executive Assistants currently in the role, supporting C-Suite Corporate Executives.
With over 40 years of combined industry experience, we came together to share the knowledge!
We unite Administrative Professionals, Assistants, and all Business Support Professionals globally with our honest, realistic approach to common questions and problem-solving.
Our show provides a space for listeners to learn about the challenges and triumphs of the Assistant Profession and to gain insights into the strategies and approaches that make these professionals successful.
Our episodes are kept to around 30 minutes as we appreciate how precious your time is and never use a typical interview format. Instead, our voice note approach makes each episode easy to listen to and relatable.
Our "Hi Crodie..." initiative is where we invite you to send in your questions, bugbears, and comments that relate to the role and your learning & development. To be featured on the show visit our website www.craigandjodie.com and send in yours today.
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The Crodie Files Podcast- For Administrative Assistants and Business Support Professionals
EP10:Our secrets on work-life balance without compromising productivity or family time
This episode is sponsored by Autograph Events - THE experts in providing a complete event management solution – from free global venue finding through to full onsite event management. https://www.autograph-events.co.uk Connect today and ask more about the collaborative promotion for our listeners!
In this thought-provoking episode, hosts Craig Bryson and Jodie Mears reveal their secrets of achieving that elusive work-life balance, specifically crafted for the everyday heroes – Administrative Assistants.
We're laying all cards on the table, discussing the changes in work culture triggered by the pandemic, the shift towards remote work, and the mandatory act of prioritizing health, family, and self-care.
What if we told you that you could achieve a work-life balance without compromising productivity or family time? Intriguing, right?
Get ready to transform your routine as we address a listener's query on balancing work and personal life, with real, actionable advice based on our own experiences.
You've heard of work-life balance, but what about work-life harmony? It's all about communication, self-assessment, and effectively utilizing health awareness programs.
We invite you, our listeners, to share your own experiences and strategies through our social media and our "Hi Crodie..." initiative which is your burning thoughts and questions.
Keep in mind that every piece of advice is unbiased, and remember that each individual's journey to a harmonious work-life balance is unique.
So, get in touch via our LinkedIn page or website, and let’s continue this vital conversation.
Value Bombs
Jodie Mears - "So, therefore worklife balance, worklife has changed permanently".
Craig Bryson – "Putting yourself at the front, instead of putting others before you".
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Help us stay visible to you by sharing this episode with someone in your circle as well as following and subscribing so you never miss an episode.
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This episode was brought to you by Autograph Events, our sponsor. Come take my hand, I will walk with you. I won't let go till you say so there isn't anything I wouldn't do.
Speaker 2:I want to make sure that you understand. Thank you for tuning in to the Crody Files.
Speaker 1:I'm Craig Bryson and I'm Jody. Mears and together we are the Crody.
Speaker 2:Files Episode 5,. In this episode, we are going to talk about how can administrative assistants achieve a better work-life balance. Without you, there is no tomorrow, and without you, there is no tomorrow.
Speaker 1:It's difficult because we do everything. How can you do balanced?
Speaker 2:I know I don't like the idea of a balanced. It was recently pointed out to me in a webinar that if you think of a balance as a scale or a seesaw, one's up one's down. And it's really difficult to achieve.
Speaker 1:So how's that balanced?
Speaker 2:That equilibrium of the middle ground, because you're going to make one tiptoe step and you're going to throw the other side off. It's really I don't know if you can achieve a harmonious balance as such, but there are strategies and coping skills that we can talk about that help you inch towards making sure you're not just living to work.
Speaker 1:Yes. So what does it mean to you being a better work-life balance? I mean, you've got some children and so you've got to work, you've got to pick up the kids, you've got to drop them off, so how's that for you?
Speaker 2:Well, it's nothing new.
Speaker 1:Women have been doing this for years anyway, so there's nothing new for you. Multitask we're definitely good at multitasking, and keeping all balls up in the air anyway, exactly.
Speaker 2:So that's not a big deal for me, but it does add to sort of the complexities of my day.
Speaker 1:It is.
Speaker 2:Let's say that I've achieved a much better work-life balance since the whole work from home situation.
Speaker 1:Oh, definitely, oh yes.
Speaker 2:I am grateful, in a sense of lockdown coming at a time it did I mean health issues aside yeah that's a completely different thing, but the positives of this worldwide complete shutdown has meant that my role, our role, has been highlighted as a much more flexible role than it used to be considered. So the working from home and used to be frowned upon. Bums need to be on seats. You need to be visible. You need to be by a printer. I'm afraid you need to make sure if anyone needs anything.
Speaker 1:You need to be right there to get in something, so I was really pleased that when lockdown happened that we were all working from home.
Speaker 2:It was a bit like, see, we can do it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we can do it at home and do the same thing.
Speaker 2:The company's still functioning, yeah.
Speaker 1:Some of them still want us to go back five days a week. I think it's unrealistic. I think times are changing. Technology is coming forward. As we've been speaking the whole season.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I think now it's more two days in the office and it's more of a catch up with your workmates and networking. For example, if I go into the office, I know that if my boss is there, I've got to be in there. If he's the only guy for two days, I'm going to be in there for two days, but if I'm going to go when he's not there, other partners tend to use me because their EAs are at home and there's. Oh, my EAs are not here. Would you be able to print this? Would you be able to bound it? Would you be able to do this? So it's that sort of I'm going to stay at home when he's staying home. So they're going to balance.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean whatever works for the business. I don't agree with the whole attitude of you've had your fun, get back to the office the world has changed permanently. It wasn't just a flitting moment where we had to put a few measures in and now, okay, everyone go back to normal.
Speaker 1:Yeah. There is no normal we have a new normal as we keep getting quoted.
Speaker 2:This is the new normal. Yeah, there are lots of issues around going back to the office. I understand cities and infrastructure, public transport needs to be supported, but I don't necessarily feel that you have to be in work five days a week. I don't believe in the office or company culture being centered around people in the office. If the company culture wasn't there in the first place, it's not going to be there now just because you're dragging people into the office unnecessarily. Exactly, we can be a lot more productive at home. Me personally, I can.
Speaker 1:I'd be too. I'd be too.
Speaker 2:So people love to be amongst other people but now I've had two sides. Before lockdown. I used to like being with people chatting here in the buzz. Me too yeah, often like working with a radio.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Now I need to be inside them and then I can crack on a lot, yeah.
Speaker 1:Focus.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so things have changed permanently. So, therefore, work life balance, work life has changed permanently, yeah. So understanding that now means for you and I think it highlighted during lockdown what is important in your life and it is being, you know, really healthy, healthy friends of family, family, yeah, yeah it's sort of shifted.
Speaker 1:This is the benefit shift. Now it's more. I am focusing on me now and also with working from home, and even though you need to have breaks in between your work to take your mind off, just to reset yourself, I thought of popping the washing on and just getting them out and hanging them up. And as I'm hanging up the washing, okay, I need to send that email. I need to do that. So I'm away from the computer but also sort of dreaming Still thinking.
Speaker 1:Still thinking, still working and also putting on a meal like cooking roast chicken, pop that in the oven, there you go, put it down slow cook, all that sort of stuff. I think it's back.
Speaker 2:That is very personal to you, but it does highlight the fact that when we're in the office, those things were still going through our mind.
Speaker 1:Yeah. But that anxiety of oh gosh, I need to get home. I need to do all these things between five and six.
Speaker 2:Yeah, there's so many things I need to cram in between five, seven or five and eight.
Speaker 1:And if you want small kids, it's also I need to feed them at the bottom. Get a lot of stuff.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean there's going to be. If you haven't got children, there's going to be pets, there's going to be dependents, there's going to be family. That why your time elsewhere or your leisure might be a club or a hobby that you need to get home to. So the whole lockdown thing was a good thing for me. It reset the balance, it reset the scales and I now know and I've been forced into understanding what my learning style is, what's important to me and what I will and will not tolerate or can accept anymore.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and also I'm thinking more of my sort of taking care of physical mental health, going to the gym during, like, oh, instead of lunch time, there's a gym across the road, I can take a nap. I will just go have my lunch, go do that sort of stuff.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's really important.
Speaker 1:It's important to me your first, because when you come back from the gym you're all still wet.
Speaker 2:It's hard to just sling off as well in the office. What?
Speaker 1:time, have you come? Yeah, I'm on my lunch break.
Speaker 2:Yeah, offices are a funny environment. It's like being in a goldfish bowl.
Speaker 1:I'm just worried about who's watching.
Speaker 2:what are they thinking? But, ultimately, we have got to think about what is good for us, what's good for our health physical and mental health and achieving that. You need to be realistic and honest, honest, honest. You can take the transparent with yourself first of all, before you have any conversations of this is how I like to work. Does the company support this? Ask questions. Yeah, what is the company's stance on work-life balance? What systems or initiatives do you have in place to promote a healthy work-life balance?
Speaker 1:It's not a balance, no it shouldn't be balance in the two? Your life should come first.
Speaker 2:First, yeah, but we can kind of mix this advice in and share in this knowledge in with learning and embracing new tech to achieve the work of harmony, let's say streamlining processes efficiencies, freeing up your time, yeah.
Speaker 2:So we spoke about time management and how long it can take doing the traditional route of booking meetings with other EAs. We need to set this meeting up. Is so and so free on Tuesday at five? No, he's not, but he's free this time. You can use those new apps and software add-ons you might already have them licensed to the company, you haven't asked enough questions yet and use those power-ups or those extra add-ons to outlook. Find time. Every single one of these time saving or streamlining productivity app can help us achieve our work life harmony. So one supports the other, the other one supports the other. So we need both in our life to support our desired outcome in life.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:It might be your mortgage or your hobby.
Speaker 1:Going on a cruise.
Speaker 2:Here we go. It's getting personal. Now. That's what it worked for. It's got a fit, hasn't?
Speaker 1:it, it has yeah.
Speaker 2:So what you do needs to support what you want. Exactly Having those conversations with yourself and understanding what your drivers are. How do you want to balance your work and your life?
Speaker 1:And this is probably something you need to speak with your boss Sit down and say this is what I want to do. I'll do this. It's setting boundaries and priorities, praying yourself in the front and set off putting others before you.
Speaker 2:Which is difficult with us, isn't?
Speaker 1:it yeah.
Speaker 2:As a profession is because we're always known as supporting others Things Don't really like, you know we are that skill?
Speaker 1:We are team member.
Speaker 2:No, we're the skillful profession in its own right. We're not just a proper team, just supporting other people to be successful, even though, ultimately, driving the business goals forward and personal goals and achievements is what we do. It's not just about other people. You might want to refresh a conversation with HR and maybe people culture whatever they're called to understand your company rewards and benefits. There might be something there you've forgotten about maybe some healthcare add-ons for counselling, some gym membership, some membership that's affiliated to all of the company benefits, which might help you in turn, balance the harmony of work and life. It might give you some new ideas of how you can best use the company benefits and perks and rewards.
Speaker 1:What about the? Can you do this? I need it now. It has extra work. Don't be afraid to say no, I find that. How urgent is this? Can I do this tomorrow, because I'm really busy in that? So, I think, standing your ground and your boundaries, as we talked about earlier, I think that's something also, but you don't want to say no. I'm always saying yes to everything.
Speaker 2:We do tend to say yes, but we do need to be clear. If I say yes, what do you want me to put to the sideline? Well, you've asked me to do all of this by the end of the day.
Speaker 1:Which is more important?
Speaker 2:Yeah out of the 10,. What three do you want done today? Because I also need to go home and do some personal things.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I slowly have to go.
Speaker 2:I'm not saying it's easy, but it's finding those words and having that relationship at the beginning with your executive or your manager.
Speaker 1:And if you're able to delegate, that's another thing. If you're like part of a team and say, well, would you be able to do this, because you're good at that and I can work on this, and therefore we can get the job done.
Speaker 2:Yeah, delegation is great. I mean, there's a lot of EAs and PAs and definitely well, vas for sure that don't have the benefit of having a team to delegate. So leaning on being very proficient with your time, being strict with your own time having that cut off and that boundary, to say that the forefront of the employment or the assignment I work these hours. I mean if it's just letting you know, if it's one off.
Speaker 1:for example, this client needs to document at six o'clock. Everybody's all hands on deck, they're all doing it, but if it's every day, then you work into a class.
Speaker 2:They are situations.
Speaker 1:I'm not saying that it's five o'clock, it's in my sort of contract. I'm leaving up that's a bit non a team player, so you need to say, ok, I can help you. But if I've worked three hours over time, can I come in a little bit later because I have to drop my kids off and I have to do this or stuff. So there should be a compromise by the company and the worker.
Speaker 1:And also, if you're going to have lunch, don't sit at your desk because you need to get your desk. Somebody will come get out of the office, go for a walk, walk around or go for a jog or something. Don't sit at the desk because you're mentally in this sort of cave, aren't you? You're just in this building. You haven't seen the sunlight, you haven't been outside. You do need to get out just to get your lunchtime.
Speaker 2:It helps with a bit of a creativity reset as well. You're just staring at the screen and you're thinking about other things. If you just go for a walk, I mean maybe just once, quick around the block, you think I haven't got time for that.
Speaker 1:You have to make time in mental, isn't it?
Speaker 2:You have to. It's really important.
Speaker 1:And also adjust your eyes. If you're staring, it can damage your eyes. Staring, focusing, fall. There's a lot of street tips that you can if you walk away from your desk, Look at a point that's further than 20 meters and then look at a point that is like 1 meter so you can focus and that also helps to ease the stress on your eyes.
Speaker 2:Your eyes used to work again.
Speaker 1:So standing in front of a screen that's shining into your eyes.
Speaker 2:That's interesting, that catchphrase of I haven't got time, how do we make time?
Speaker 1:Yeah, I just get up and go, do you yeah?
Speaker 2:I always say you have time for what's important and you know you have time. You have the choice to make when you either have time to answer that phone call.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You have time to send that email. You've just not chosen it over something else.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So it's not that you haven't had time, you haven't chosen that as a priority.
Speaker 1:I agree yeah.
Speaker 2:So yeah, that's a bug bit of a lie. I didn't have time to do that. I was so busy I didn't have time to call you back. No, you did.
Speaker 1:But you chose not to.
Speaker 2:The Crowdy Files is brought to you by Autograph Events, our show sponsors. Autograph Events are the experts in providing a complete event management solution from free global venue finding through to full onsite event management, executive away days, team building and offsite meetings. They can help us plan it all. They offer that extra pair of hands, a bit like the assistant's assistant. The best part is, they understand how we like to work. They understand our role. So for more information, email events at autograph eventscouk, quoting Crowdy Files 2023, to find out how they can help you plan your next event and for your personal reward Terms and conditions apply Please see our website craigandjodycom.
Speaker 2:Next, we have a listener question. Craig and I are going to answer this one, but if you would like to become part of the show and be a guest contributor, just get in touch and let us know your area of expertise. This question was sent in to us via our website and then recorded via Voice Note. If you have a burning question about absolutely anything that you want us to answer, please get in touch and we will happily feature it on the show. It's important to Craig and I that we remain current, sharing the best practice, best knowledge with you, but ultimately discussing what is on the top of your mind and is a hot topic to you.
Speaker 2:So get in touch today with your question. Come, take my hand, I'll walk with you. I won't let go till you say so. Hi Crowdy, how do you balance work and personal life without compromising your output, work and family time at home? Thank you. We've had quite a few questions about health and wellness and work-life balance. This one around compromising the output is interesting because I guess what they're trying to say is how can I still have a personal life and still get the job done?
Speaker 1:Done yeah.
Speaker 2:I think the focus there is. You maybe been putting too much of your eggs into one basket into work and now you've realized you actually want your personal life back, yet you still want to deliver what you were delivering when you had all the eggs in the basket. There's a transition period, isn't there?
Speaker 2:You need to communicate that I now need to leave at 4 or 5 o'clock because I need to get to this class that I'm really interested in and it's going to be really beneficial to me. In the end, I need to go to this, whatever it is, at 5 o'clock every Thursday. First of all, have that conversation, be open and honest with yourself and with your manager or with your organization, and come up with a solution. However, I can still deliver what you're asking me to deliver. It's not going to have an effect on my output.
Speaker 2:How is it not going to have an effect on your output? Staying organized?
Speaker 1:Staying organized? Yeah, using software that we discussed, software the focus, losing the software to help you. I mean, this is where the whole AI thing comes in. We all just transitioning from to this work-life balance Embracing the AI. This is where it's all going to be filling these questions and answering this sort of information, because this is what's going to help.
Speaker 2:So it's going to be freeing up our time. So, if not to do something product-related at work, it's going to be freeing up your time to do something for yourself. And remember, bring it all the way back to health awareness first. See if there is a wellness initiative at work, see if you can tap into that, maybe become a member of it, be on the board.
Speaker 1:On the committee. You can do a lot of EA communities. You can sort of train them to do wellness and yoga and to push out company messages.
Speaker 2:Understand what the company directive is with health and wellness. What are their priorities? What are they trying to push across? Some of them might not be health and wellness-orientated at all which is a bit sad. Not all companies are, I mean a lot are focused and they realize that people are most important. People first, and then all the business and sales and development comes naturally. They're not all companies, no, so understand if that's the type of company you're working for People have worked before.
Speaker 1:yeah.
Speaker 2:Are they focused on employee well-being?
Speaker 1:Right, they're focused on numbers and getting the finance up and not focusing on the people working with them. Yeah, and if?
Speaker 2:that's not working for you anymore. Remember, we can go back to our previous episodes for you to listen to where you need to understand if this is where you want to be long term.
Speaker 1:When is it time to move on?
Speaker 2:And if your work life harmony is not in line with your company ethos, maybe that's a good time to start assessing. Have they got my best interests at home as an employee? Yeah, Am I able to comfortably ask is it okay if I go to a yoga?
Speaker 1:class yeah.
Speaker 2:It sounds ridiculous when I say it out, loud, but you should be able to. You should be able to.
Speaker 1:It's like asking your parents for permission, but it should be. I mean, I understand if you're going to be working or doing something on company's time, but you make it the other ways, like coming in a little bit earlier to do that. I mean that sort of self-explanatory, absolutely not saying undercut your hours every week.
Speaker 2:Again, flexible work.
Speaker 1:Flexible working hours.
Speaker 2:Flexible working hours for me, flexible working is the gateway to my wellness, because I just feel more in control and my output is higher. It's better. I'm where I want to be. I don't want to be stuck on a train commuting two hours each way, stressed and wondering whether trains are actually working tonight.
Speaker 1:And it's cost as well.
Speaker 2:Cost? Yeah, everything it all comes in full circle and kind of overlaps into health well-being. Am I in the right environment? Is the company all for me and with me? Does that in turn give me the work-life harmony that I'm looking for? But you first, yeah you first.
Speaker 1:Your health comes first. When your health goes down, nobody's going to be there. So you need to be able to get healthy and get to the right point.
Speaker 2:So to answer that question, how do you balance? I think you've just got to take stock and have a bit of a self-assessment. Oh, what is it that's currently stopping you? What is it that is feeling you're compromising on your quality of output work?
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:It could be as simple as just. You're focusing on the wrong thing at work, you are getting a little waylaid, you're getting distracted.
Speaker 1:I'm not focusing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you're not focused on the task. Maybe your distractions are people coming up to you in the office.
Speaker 1:Can you just yeah, Just a minute. Wait a minute can?
Speaker 2:I just ask you, it might be all of those.
Speaker 1:I'm so stressful, I'm so stressed.
Speaker 2:I'm just concentrating here, yeah.
Speaker 1:So the great thing I do is I just shove in my headphones and then when they walk, it's like are you on the call?
Speaker 2:It's like hey, I'm not, I'm just turning to work. Send me a message. Send me a message. So figure out what it is that you feel is making you feel that you're compromising on output. Yeah, and communicate.
Speaker 1:And communicate with your boss or HR, or have a conversation.
Speaker 2:Join a health awareness program that may be loosely associated with your employee benefits and perks. That you might not have realized, but do get in touch with us if you feel that you've got something to add as well. We'd be really interested to know if you have any other top tips or a bit of a spin on this listener question, and you can get in contact with us on our website at the bottom, where you can send in your high crudy questions.
Speaker 1:Or on any of our social media, the crudy files. We look forward to receiving these. These are really sort of the highlights when we get into our emails. They are. Oh, what's this juicy bit? And we do get a lot.
Speaker 2:It's really nice that you're using us as this sort of soundboard.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And that platform that we can ask questions out to the wider community and to our influencers and trainers in our space as well. We like to think we're neutral in our advice. We remain unbiased when it comes to pointing you in certain directions.
Speaker 1:And we're only sharing our knowledge from our experiences and what we're going through. It says not all cement and this is what Crudy files. It has to happen. It's nothing like that.
Speaker 2:And we're not pointing you into a certain direction to go and expense yourself with expensive learning and development. We will give you the whole broad range of options. So if there is something that you want specifically answered, please do email us through our website, creakandjodicom, or you can opt to record a high, crudy question to be featured on the show.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Subscribe so you never miss another episode, and auto download. It really helps us stay visible to you and where you can leave us a five star review, even if it's just one word it really, really helps.
Speaker 2:The world is changing and technology is right in our future. Without us, there is no tomorrow. We need to change with the times. Help in, guide in and teach in each other is the only way we will get through this together as a team. We would love to hear from you. Please like and subscribe so you won't miss an episode. And why not share your thoughts with us on our LinkedIn page, the crudy files, or visit creakandjodicom. I'm Craig Bryson and I'm Jody Mears, and together we are the crudy files.
Speaker 1:This episode was brought to you by Autograph Events, our sponsor.
