9 ways investing in your family pays dividends at work

Christian Muntean Jan. 2, 2019

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There is no doubt that having a family makes life busy. My wife and I both own and operate separate businesses. I’m a consultant. She is a counselor. 

We have three young and activechildren: 6, 4 and 2 years old respectively. It isn’t easy raising a family and pursuing careers. 

The belief is that family or career need to come at the cost of one or the other. Women often feel that they have to choose. (Or win at everything.) 

Having to choose can cause resentment. Being a “super mom” is overwhelming and unrealistic. 

Men, inaccurately, are viewed as having “it all.” Being able to pursue their careers andhave a family life. 

Based on the high rates of divorce many “60-hour-work-week” men experience, their common estrangement from children and high rates of stress-related health issues make me think men haven’t figured it out either. 

As counter-intuitive as it may seem, investing firstin building a healthy home life can prove to pay direct dividends at work. 

What science says

The Academy of Management Perspectives has recently completed a study showing that fathers who spend more quality time with their families also have increased job satisfaction and lower turnover rates than those who don’t. 

Additionally, a Clark University and the Center for Creative Leadership study has demonstrated that parenting improves a manager’s abilities to multi-task, to manage stress and sharpen their negotiation skills. 

Skills and attitudes built in the home transfer to higher productivity and longevity at work. 

What the experts say

John Lee Dumas of the wildly popular podcast Entrepreneur on Firehas observed that many entrepreneurs experience a “baby bump” in their business success that corresponds with having their first child. 

Dr. Alan Weiss, a globally respected consultant, has stated that a strong marriage relationship is crucial to the success of those starting and operating their own businesses. 

Creating a supportive and stable home environment allows someone to focus their efforts and energy to build their business.

The caveat is that this is true for people who actively invest in building healthy relationships at home. 

Just being married or having children isn’t enough. It’s the active investment toward becoming a better and more supportive partner or parent that has a demonstrably positive impact at work. 

Here are nine ways investing in family makes you more effective at work: 

1. Reduces stress:A healthy relationship with your spouse gives you a place to vent and receive support.

2. Multi-tasking:Family, especially parenting, teaches you to juggle multiple and competing priorities. 

3. Develops perseverance:Building healthy family relationships requires a lot of daily doing what needs to be done. It cultivates the ability to endure and follow through on difficult or unpleasant tasks. 

4. Teaches you coaching, mentoring and leadership development skills:Being a good listener, encouraging someone, supporting and guiding someone’s growth are core capacities in family and good leadership. 

5. New networks, ideas and perspectives:Spouses and children have their social networks and perspectives. They expose you to a larger world of people, experiences and ideas than if you were on your own. 

6. Resiliency:Resiliency is the ability to ‘bounce back’ from discouragement or defeat. Family can provide a place of support, a source of confidence and positive self-image. 

7. Crisis management:Family experiences can teach you to stay patient and make effective decisions in times of crisis or emergency. 

8. Negotiation skills:Family life allows ample opportunities to practice compromise, developing empathy, the ability to listen and identify underlying issues. 

9. Conflict-resolution skills:Family life provides a rich environment for making mistakes, asking for and offering forgiveness, learning to apologize and own your impact and how to value others who see things differently. 

Family improves your working ability precisely because it is challenging. 

For those of us who embrace and grow through those challenges, we have the additional benefit of knowing we’re growing professionally as well. 

Now if we could figure out how to make date nights tax deductible.

Photo source: istock 

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Christian Muntean is a seasoned expert in fostering business growth and profitability. With a Master's degree in Organizational Leadership and certifications as a Master Coach, Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), and International Mergers & Acquisitions Expert (IM&A), he guides entrepreneurial leaders through growth, succession planning, and exit strategies. He is an accomplished author of three books, including Train to Lead. Christian resides in Anchorage, Alaska, with his family.  Learn More »

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