I
totally related to the cover story by Sheelah Kolhatkar in Blumberg Businessweek
June 3- June 9. Sheelah praised the new
generation of “Alpha Dads.” She exemplified the Toronto office of Deloitte’s
Consulting Group, about their flexibility in work-life balance and the
resulting increased productivity.
Leaving the office early to attend a son’s hockey game and then logging
in from home office does not in any way hurt the firm. If anything, it helps it. The “Deloitte Dads,” the “fraternity of
paternity” have received extensive media coverage as manager Jonathan Magder,
35, stated, “if I leave for the day, I’m just changing my (work) location.” The
Deloitte Dads were inspired by the Deloitte mothers group, “Career Moms” which
now has four chapters in Canada, promoting networking and more flexible
schedules for working parents with young children. It is a “Lean In” prototype for parenting executives,
inspired by the bestselling book “Lean In” by Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook.
When
my son, now 23, was growing up I missed many of his basketball, soccer &
martial arts events because I was working.
That was a mistake that I will not repeat with my wonderful young daughter,
Jaime, now 6. I now make it my priority
to be at every event at school & sports activities. Seeing her evolve as an excellent swimmer has
been very gratifying.
It’s
all about flexibility in scheduling, efficient prioritizing and careful time
management. The IPAD, blackberry and
other new media and mobile devices make it even less of a challenge. As the Toronto based manager of Deloitte said
“I’m just changing my work location.”
