Balance

There is a lot of talk about balance these days. Balancing long-term and short-term strategy, work-life balance etc. What does balance really mean, and does it mean the same thing to everybody?

I turned to Webster’s Dictionary for a definition, and there are fourteen options listed under the definition—seriously fourteen! Count them (below). The definitions range from an instrument for weighing; to a means of judging or deciding, or even mental or emotional steadfastness. Who knew that one little word could be so complicated?

The reason this felt important enough for me to write about today is that I have been thinking a lot about balance lately. I am always thinking about the best ways to communicate balance to clients and colleagues. Personally, it has been a challenge to “balance” work responsibility, board responsibilities and family and friendship responsibilities as well. How can I achieve the best balance? Where do I start with prioritization? I learned a long time ago that balance does not necessarily mean a 50:50 relationship at all times. But one thing that consistently helps is to stop and think about why I was doing something in the first place. My friend, who is starting her own business reminds me of this every time we meet.

As a consultant, I help clients set goals, and establish measurement techniques and tools that provide short-term and long-term analysis to show if the strategy has stayed on course or achieved the right balance. How often do we do this personally? It makes sense to approach balance as a means for judging and deciding, but it feels as though striving for a perfect equilibrium is unrealistic and can at times be harmful to overall strategy. I, for one, feel better that even Webster’s Dictionary has multiple options for the definition of balance and thought it might be a relief for you as well. Make up your own definition and keep the end goal in mind – it keeps things interesting when the balance shifts along the way!

“Main Entry: ¹bal·ance

Pronunciation: \ˈba-lən(t)s\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *bilancia, from Late Latin bilanc-, bilanx having two scalepans, from Latin bi- + lanc-, lanx plate

Date: 13th century

1 : an instrument for weighing: as a : a beam that is supported freely in the center and has two pans of equal weight suspended from its ends b : a device that uses the elasticity of a spiral spring for measuring weight or force
2 : a means of judging or deciding; 3 : a counterbalancing weight, force, or influence; 4 : an oscillating wheel operating with a hairspring to regulate the movement of a timepiece; 5 a : stability produced by even distribution of weight on each side of the vertical axis b : equipoise between contrasting, opposing, or interacting elements c : equality between the totals of the two sides of an account; 6 a : an aesthetically pleasing integration of elements b : the juxtaposition in writing of syntactically parallel constructions containing similar or contrasting ideas; 7 a : physical equilibrium b : the ability to retain one's balance; 8 a : weight or force of one side in excess of another b : something left over : remainder c : an amount in excess especially on the credit side of an account
9 : mental and emotional steadiness”