Ironically, I have observed that when my coaching clients set clear parameters at work to enable them to achieve what they perceive to be personal goals, there is a profoundly positive impact on their focus, productivity and satisfaction at work.

One leader whom I coach (we’ll call her Kelly) has recently achieved fantastic improvements in her clarity and effectiveness at work. She started by simply making one small personal commitment. Kelly decided that one day a week she would commit to taking her daughter to an after-school activity that was very important to her. She began to structure her work day in such a way that she would be set-up for success in meeting this commitment. Being someone who is highly responsible to others, this led to keeping commitments to finish initiatives at work in time to leave office. She found herself working in a more focused way. She was energized by knowing that she would be meeting a commitment to her family, instead of wasting energy worrying about whether she should stay at work or attend after-school activity. For one day each week, decision had already been made. This became parameter and work simply had to fit in to time allotted for that one day a week.