The newly elected leader recently revealed that for years he has “protected” spending time with his family, including his 16-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter, and he has no intention of giving up the habit because, in his eyes, he is A better politician.
The Labor leader told reporters: “I don’t believe in the theory that if you don’t give yourself the space to be a father and have fun for your children, then you’re a better decision-maker.” virgin radio last week.
“Actually, it helps me. It takes my stress away, it allows me to relax, and I think actually, it’s not only what I want to do as a dad, but it’s better.
The 61-year-old prosecutor-turned-politician added that in politics, “some people think that if you keep a diary 24/7 and don’t do anything else, it makes you a better decision-maker. By”. “I don’t agree with that. I think you have to make space.
Opposition parties subsequently labeled Starmer a “part-time prime minister” on social media.
Meanwhile, his predecessor Rishi Sunak – richer than the King of England and serving as prime minister from 2022 until last week’s election defeat – scoffed: “I’ve never done six thing.
Downing Street refuses of wealth Request for comment.
Work-life balance in leadership is rare
No one likes to work well in the evenings or on weekends. The only problem? As Sunak (and many CEOs) wealth) has been pointed out, Being a leader is not an ordinary 9-to-5 job.
Doug Baird, CEO of New Street Consulting Group wealth The pace of the world has changed dramatically, and leaders need to stay dynamic at all times if they want to keep up with today’s high standards.
“It’s interesting that Sir Keir Starmer aims not to work after 6pm on Fridays, but that’s not the case with leadership,” he added. “I suspect most business leaders are probably somewhat amused by this lofty and unrealistic homemade deadline.”
“If a world leader calls him, is the phone answering machine open?”
But in reality, there’s a big difference between being available and being employed.
“I don’t think he’s going to act like he’s not in the office,” said Lewis Maleh, chief executive of global executive recruiter Bentley Lewis, adding that it was in his own interest to Leaders need to strike a balance between being on call and being off duty.
“I think it’s very important for leaders to protect their energy and manage their time in the right way,” he added. “The road is long, and the CEO job is all-encompassing. If you can’t take care of yourself, how can you take care of others?
Burned out leaders do no one any good
Burnout is an epidemic in modern business.
While younger workers suffer the most from mental health issues at work, managers are no strangers to experiencing burnout.
Barnaby Lashbrooke, CEO of virtual assistant company Time Etc, tells the story wealth He left work “unapologetically” on Friday after working 35 hours (with regular breaks) because his physical and mental health was taking a hit from the 100-hour weeks he started the company.
“If you don’t control time, you can’t expect to function optimally in the long run,” he said from experience. “While the prime minister is technically always on call, exhausted leaders are simply incapable of making the right decisions.”
Many CEOs and leadership experts tell us that when leaders prioritize work-life balance, the entire workforce benefits from a trickle-down effect. wealth Starmer’s stance on 24/7 working sets a good example for healthy working standards.
“We’re all used to seeing leaders wake up at 4 a.m., do an intense workout in the gym, and then finish a couple of hours of work by 7 a.m.,” said Amrit, CEO and founder of Employment Engagement. Amrit Sandhar said. “They don’t seem to have an off switch because they’re working into the evenings and weekends.”
Sundhar said Starmer’s indication that he would take dedicated breaks showed he had the emotional intelligence to understand that how he works determines how others work.
“When leaders take time out to spend time with their families, it sends a message to others that you need to be your best at work and when you’re off work, focus on the aspects of life that really matter.”
