HBR Working Parents Series Collection (3 Books) (HBR Working Parents Series)

19

What to Do When Personal and Professional Commitments Compete for Your Time

by Elizabeth Grace Saunders

Quick Takes

• Reflect on how you’re going to deal with conflicts before they come up
• Avoid defaulting to an “all-or-nothing” approach
• Consider delegating, time-splitting, or virtual presence
• Show your commitment or care in other ways when you just can’t be there

You’re double-booked.

It’s not just one meeting scheduled over another. It’s something for your family at odds with a work commitment. These situations can trigger guilt and stress. Guilt because you feel like you’re letting others down—no matter what you decide, you will lose. And stress because you literally can’t be in two places at once.

As a time-management coach, I help working ...