Our People
Work Life Effectiveness interview series: Cathy Kelly
Our Work Life Effectiveness (WLE) interview series features AlixPartners professionals across the world discussing successful strategies for facilitating their own work life effectiveness.
Cathy Kelly, an administrative professional in AlixPartners' London office, shares her approach to work life effectiveness and how it aids her own personal and professional development.
What does Work Life Effectiveness (“WLE”) mean to you?
For me, it’s about separating my work life from my home life and making sure that when I leave the office, whether for the day or on holiday, I’m not constantly checking emails.
What is one strategy that helps you establish, maintain, and achieve WLE in your workday?
It’s hard to switch off when it’s busy, but one tactic that helps me is to check my task list and diaries for the following day right before I leave, so that I know what I’ll be coming into in the morning. I also push myself to take advantage of the less busy periods and leave the office at 5:30 on the dot.
At what point in your career did you realize that WLE actually improves your performance in the workplace?
Last year was a turning point for me in realizing that a good balance is essential to doing my job effectively. I know I achieve more at work when I have had time to myself and with my friends and family.
How has your approach on WLE evolved over the years?
I am just beginning to manage my work life balance, but I know it is something that needs to be considered in my daily life. As part of my development, I intend to consider what is available to help me think through strategies.
How do you ensure your teams are achieving WLE?
The administrative assistant team in London is great at looking out for each other and being able to spot when somebody needs to take a break or needs help. This is in part driven by us being full time in the office and in part because we have taken it upon ourselves to figure how we can work best as a team. This is harder for other teams in the firm who are dispersed or work out of the office, but having the personal connection is invaluable to good teamwork.
If you had to give one piece of advice related to WLE to your younger self, what would it be?
My younger self would never have given a moment’s thought to being at a stage in my career where I would need to consider work life effectiveness, which I’m quite happy with!