A new way of working - combining life and work into an integrated existence.

1. A new way of
working – combining
life and work into an
integrated existence.
Lifework

2. Lifework
Summit syndrome
Secretsof success
What is the cost of career progression?
Many people in business reach
a level of high professional achievement
only to realise that they’ve made too
many commitments and
tradeoffs. Today there’s
an epidemic among senior
managers and leaders:
‘summit syndrome’.
2

3. 3
Lifework
The aspiration to be recognised as a
multifaceted and purposeful human
exists across the upper echelons of
senior management. But in so many
cases these high achievers hide their
wider dreams and aspirations, and suffer
in well-paid silence.
Summit syndrome sufferings

4. 4
Lifework
Linear education
Many from Generation X who have achieved
professional goals, had a tertiary education.
This linear educational path often then sets an
individual onto a linear career path – law students
become lawyers and accounting students
become accountants.

5. 5
Lifework
Linear career
And once in an organisation, career
paths often unfold in an equally linear
way – first as an individual within
a functional department, then
team leader and finally middle
or senior management in the
same function.

6. Lifework
Something else starts to happen on this
linear track. As we progress we are ranked
and compared to others according to a
narrow range of performance criteria.
We accrue artefacts of recognition:
degree certificates and job titles.
Narrow rankings
6

7. 7
Lifework
Linear development
The best high achievers
are often rewarded with
recognition and promotion.
They are singled out for special
development, and they are
shepherded towards high
potential career tracks.

8. 8
Lifework
Rarely does the path take into
account wider life goals such as
fulfilling private relationships and
parenting, the pursuit of personal
passions, health and wellbeing.
People believe that if they achieve
career success, then these
other things will follow.
Dreaming outside the lines
8

9. 9
Lifework
As many high achievers start
to experience conflicts, they
endeavour to make changes.
A repertoire of tactics is
adopted by high achievers
who are aiming to achieve
a ‘work-life balance’.
The balance fallacy

10. 10
Lifework
In the mid-1800s workers
aimed to separate work
and social life to maximise
operational efficiency. In the
20th century, the boundaries
of organisations became
more permeable: firms
looked towards outsourcing
and consultancy. Today,
organisations have
started to employ interim
management at even the
most senior levels.
The history of work-life dichotomy

11. 11
Lifework
Lifeworking – a new way
Lifeworking is an alternative
philosophy to purposeful living. It
does not try to separate life and
work into two distinct and seemingly
incompatible spheres, but instead
meshes both. There are three
possible paths for high achievers.

12. 12
Lifework
1.1. Renegotiate the terms of engagement
People can better integrate
other life goals into their
current organisation. This
requires a track record of high
performance, trusted relationships
with senior management and
peers, and willingness for the
organisation to be output
rather than input focused.

13. 13
Lifework
1.2. Create or join an organisation
Why not reject industrial-age work
orthodoxy? Organisations, often small
in size, reject a philosophy of scarcity
in favour of embracing abundance,
and are comfortable in providing
individuals with a greater degree
of autonomy over how they achieve
performance goals.

14. 14
Lifework
1.3. Become a free agent
People can offer knowledge
as a consultant or interim
manager on their most valuable
skills and capabilities. This
approach delivers a key
element of lifeworking –
autonomy. But it requires
deep insight into the
individual’s skills and to
learn how to network
with other free agents.
14

15. 15
Lifework
Whatever the choice, individuals need to be
the ones driving the shift towards lifework.
High achievers need to first understand what
success really means for them,
and then systematically
address the fears
that stand in the way
of change.
1.Barriers to entering lifework
15

16. 16
Lifework
People must create purposeful
goals that go beyond promotion
and generating value for a firm.
It’s easy for individuals to lose
a sense of purpose and lack
direction on a linear career
path. In order to adopt
lifeworking, they need to
step back and recall their
most profound dreams.
1.1. Barrier – defining purpose

17. 17
Lifework
1.2. Barrier – overcoming fear
The first set of fears can be personal and
deep-rooted, such as financial security
or an inability to re-enter a linear career
path after leaving.
The second set of fears related to
social and professional environments:
what of a family who values education
and career success? What about
possible reactions of bosses, peers
and colleagues?
17

18. 18
Lifework
1.Career adventures
Anyone who pursues the
path of lifework needs to
acknowledge that certain
givens are no longer valid.
Embarking on a non-linear
career adventure often
requires investment in time
and money as new skills are
developed: the further away
from core expertise, the
greater the investment.
18

19. 19
Lifework
1.Success redefined
The lifeworking approach meshes
life and work into an integrated
existence, but most importantly it is
a way of living in which the individual
and not the organisation defines the
meaning of success.
19

20. Lifework
Authors:
Jamie Anderson SEMBA2004 teaches on Executive
Education programmes at the School. He is co-
author of The Fine Art of Success and co-founder
of ConnectedVisions.eu.
Ayelet Baron is an author, entrepreneur, speaker
and co-founder of Creatingis.
The full article was published in London Business
School Review Volume 26, Issue 2 2015.
Visit the website: www.london.edu/lbsr
1.Lifework