Today’s working fathers care about success both in their careers and at home. They take pride in being good providers for their families and dedicating the time and effort necessary to be loving fathers, partners, and spouses. But many find that their career success cuts both ways. Some find themselves enmeshed in a career that, while it has many merits, may no longer fit their full range of life priorities, especially as fathers, and keeps them from feeling fully successful at work and home. As one dad I worked with told me:
What Working Dads Can Do When a High-Pressure Job Asks Too Much
Many working fathers find that their career success cuts both ways. They discover that they are enmeshed in a career that, while it has many merits, may no longer fit their full range of life priorities, especially as fathers, and keeps them from feeling fully successful at work and home. If you find yourself in this situation, you may not need to change as much as you think to have a big impact on your work and life. Sometimes a mindset change is enough. Look for opportunities to change within your current role first, and if bigger changes are needed, expand outward from there. The author recommends five steps to take to better align your career choices with your priorities: get over yourself; explore flexible and remote work; prioritize father-friendly employers; consider different industry sectors; and recognize and adjust to financial trade-offs.