Are You Bringing Your Personal Problems Into Work?

Management is a challenging job. And, sometimes, when you are having a bad day (or a bad month), it’s easy to bring your problems into work. However, as a supervisor, you need to be a stronger person. Check out these tips for successfully navigating the personal/professional balancing act.    

Signs You ARE Bringing Your Personal Problems into Work 

Do you think you are doing a decent job of staying professional? Here are five symbols there may be more overlap between your personal and your work life than you had hoped. 

• • You keep thinking about your at-home issues while you are on the job; 
  • You are having trouble staying focused and keeping on top of your duties;  
  • You feel like you are (unfairly) taking out your frustrations on your employees; 
  • Your employees seem to be, uncharacteristically, avoiding you; 
  • People are talking behind your back and wondering what’s wrong.  

Why You Should Leave Personal Problems at Home

If your personal and professional life seems to be running into one another, you may wonder if it’s a big deal. The answer is YES. As a manager, even when you are going through tough times, you must rise to the occasion because… 

• • Your Company Is Counting on You
    Being in charge comes with responsibility. A single bad day can have far-reaching effects.   

• • Your Employees Are Counting on You
    As former CEO of Google Eric Schmidt once said, “Managers serve the team.” You need to be there for your employees even when things aren’t going well for you. 
  • You Should Lead by Example
    If one of your employees were fighting with her spouse, you would empathize, but you wouldn’t allow her to take it out on her coworkers. Play by your own rules, so your team has a role model to follow.  

How to Be a Professional Manager (While Managing Your Personal Life Too)

Of course, separating your personal and professional life is easier said than done. Lifechanging events and tragedies are bound to impact your work. Therefore, they rely on these strategies to pull through. 

• • Communicate with Your Employees
    When appropriate, tell your employees what you are going through. Don’t go into the gritty details; keep them informed. This is a smart way to eliminate office gossip. Plus, you’ll probably find your colleagues offer an excellent support network too.        

• • Use Available Resources
    Some situations may be too challenging to work through. If necessary, take advantage of your organization’s resources. (After all, you would expect your employees to do the same.) Schedule some time off, delegate tasks to your second-in-command and/or temporary step back from your duties. It’s better to admit you need help than to push through unsuccessfully.   

Are You Looking for More Management Advice?

Halpin Staffing Services publishes weekly blog posts on topics on topics ranging from recognizing employee burnout to improving your management skills. And, if you’re looking to hire top candidates in Southeastern Wisconsin and Northeastern Illinois, we can help with that too. Learn more about all the staffing solutions we offer!