In the pursuit of work-life balance, we often find ourselves managing a multitude of responsibilities, commitments, and goals. Many of us wrestle with significant societal issues such as violent crime or poverty, feeling as if there’s no adequate counterbalance to restore equilibrium. The burden of work often seems to tip the scales, making corporate wellness appear elusive.
The legal profession is well-acquainted with this balancing act, symbolized by the iconic scales of justice. We are tasked with weighing evidence and balancing it in an effort to rectify mistakes and restore injured parties to their pre-damage conditions. However, the notion of balance is merely a stepping stone towards a deeper comprehension of a case. This is equally true in life and work. We need more than just work-life balance to achieve and feel successful.
Enter our collaborator, Tevis Trower of Balance Integration Corporation. Having known Tevis for nearly two decades, it took me several years to comprehend how her company’s name encapsulates more than just balance. The inclusion of integration was intentional. She has long understood that what we truly seek is work-life integration. Even when in balance, nothing materializes until we remove the elements from the scale and combine them.
This brings to mind my high school chemistry experiments or childhood visits to the fruit market in Downtown Louisville. In both instances, nothing remained on the scale. The powdered elements had to be mixed to trigger the desired reaction for my grade, and the apples had to be purchased and then utilized in a recipe. The act of balancing or weighing was merely one phase in the process.
In a similar vein, court procedures leave the evidence, the parties, and the outcomes fragmented and incomplete. Many conflict resolution methods are modeled after judicial systems and yield the same unfinished projects. To achieve superior results, we must transcend the balancing act. That is precisely what Tevis assists her clients in doing.
How Balance Integration Aligns with Third Ear Conflict Resolution
Balance Integration helps organizations evolve old practices that harm their efforts to innovate. Taking personal inventories and bringing elements together, new practices are built to support:
- Clarity of the business and personal missions
- Alignment of business and personal purpose
- Heightened self-awareness (which can be confronting and uncomfortable)
- Relationship acumen, including empathy
- Receptivity to new ideas
Tevis basically shows people who are already “successful” how to gain the experience of an optimal life from one that is already good but maybe doesn’t feel this way. Sometimes, this only requires a mindset shift. At other times, leaders might need to enhance skills in generating results, collaborating with influencers, or rebuilding trust.
At Third Ear, we resonate with Tevis’ vision of integrating, rather than merely balancing, the various elements of our lives. We believe in merging personal fulfillment with professional success, creating a harmonious work-life environment. Focusing our services on the legal aspects of workplace disputes, we’re proud to collaborate with Tevis and Balance Integration when our clients need to develop non-legal wellness.
Review of The Game Changers Guide to Radical Success
In addition to providing executive guidance and mentorship to large corporations, Tevis authored The Game Changer’s Guide to Radical Success to reach leaders at every level of an organization of any size. The book and its message resonate deeply with us at Third Ear Conflict Resolution. Understanding that high performers at work often have nagging feelings they are capable of more, the book helps them get clear on how they want their lives to feel and use that as the gauge for success.
As Tevis says, “There is no one formula for having a fulfilled life.” She encourages you to take actions that feel like tweaks, as well as courageous leaps, for the experience. You will acknowledge your responses and those of the people around you, taking everything off the scale.
Key Takeaways from the Book
- Embrace What You Have Now. Focus on the present moment, not some distant future. Get clear on how you want your life to feel, and to take steps now in that direction.
- Ploy Your Unique Route. There are many tools and strategies to choose from. Use what you enjoy. Let how you feel guide you.
- Incremental Changes Lead to Radical Success. Small changes, when accumulated over time, can lead to exceptional results. Innovation is a process.
Favorite Quotes from the Book
- “Human assets represent over 75 percent of [a corporation’s] market value.”
- “Optimal varies from person to person and moment to moment.”
- “What stumps you is usually where the potential for breakthrough lies.”
- “The greatest power you have is the power to observe and direct your thoughts.”
Conclusion
Tevis Trower and Balance Integration have been championing integrative leadership for years, bringing her insightful perspective to large corporations. These companies are not just seeking to balance their interests with those of their employees; they’re looking to merge these interests. Whether you’re planning a corporate wellness fair, considering a long-term program, or seeking smoother corporate transitions, Tevis can co-design a program tailored to your culture. It’s an honor to know and recommend her.
For more information, visit the Balance Integration website.