• Improved profitability with increased efficiency and scope control • Will attract and retain great people • More effectively manage and assess the performance of projects and people • Systems create time for the leaders to be entrepreneurs • Allows others to take responsibility for different components of the business • Improved and consistent client management • Mental health, work/life balance • Facilitates and enables growth Prosperity, happiness, having a life outside your business depends on how well your practice performs!
Bringing Balance to Work and Life In the architecture, engineering and design fields, work-life balance can sometimes feel out of reach and leading a satisfying and rewarding life, both in and outside your chosen profession, can be challenging. An important aspect of work-life balance is the sense of purpose that your work provides; feeling that the time spent at work is productive, important and contributes towards fulfilling your goals in life. And, the effort you put into work and your personal life is critical to your overall well-being, physical and mental health. The ability to successfully combine work, family commitments and personal life is important for your well-being and those close to you. In terms of the amount of work, leisure, and personal care, it’s interesting to compare Australian workers with other OECD countries. The OECD Better Life Index states: • Approximately 15% of Australians work over 50 hours a week (resulting in Australia’s rank of 30/38) • At 14 hours per day, Australians have some of the lowest time devoted to leisure and personal care (resulting in Australia’s rank of 33/38).
Long hours culture in the architecture, engineering, and design industries is endemic. Whether it’s the pressure of delivering the best result on each project, the struggle of balancing large workloads, or simply not wanting to be the first one out the door, the pressure to stay at work is great. But what is the effect of this on the AED industry, its professionals, and where is it leading us?
