Why Every Manager Should Instill a 'Work Hard Play Hard' Culture In The Organization

This maxim is a fairly common one, but sometimes easy to forget. It is intended to remind us that a “life balance” is important to everyone. Note that we try not to call this a “work-life” balance as is more common. “Work-life balance” almost by definition tends to define work in a derogatory fashion, which I think (and hope) doesn’t have to be the case.

Working hard is a good idea, but so is playing hard. Most successful individuals and project teams pursue out-of-work interests just as vigorously as they do project work. Some industries are very demanding physically, intellectually, or emotionally. It is not uncommon for both employers and employees to become totally immersed in working and lose sight of the importance of having enjoyment both during and after the workday. How this need for enjoyment outside work is accomplished depends on the makeup of the members of the organization/company. Some projects do group activities, others divert to more individual interests.

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Many companies do a good job of making sure their employees both work hard and play hard and other companies like Virgin for example, quite cleverly manage to build this maxim into the actual job environment itself.