086: The Intensification of Work – Balance versus Boundaries with Laura Hancock

<p>What constitutes a suitable work/life balance? How much does going the extra mile at work facilitate career progression? How much has the pandemic impacted attitudes to work, productivity and flexibility?</p> <p>In this episode of the Insurance Broker Podcast, we’re very pleased to be speaking with Laura Hancock, Founding Director of Yutree Insurance and Deputy Chair of the BIBA board. In conversation with Boston Tullis’ Sarah Myerscough, she performs a deep dive on a recent BBC article (linked below) which speculates that putting in extra hours and performing additional tasks in order to get ahead in one’s career has transitioned from being the exception to the rule to an employer expectation. Laura argues that there is nothing wrong with putting in additional time and effort at work to get ahead and warns that new attitudes to flexible working facilitated by the pandemic may thwart individuals’ career progression and company competitiveness.</p> <p> </p> <p>Quote of the Episode</p> <p>“If you want to get on, you often have to do a little bit more. That doesn't mean the business should expect you to do more, just that if you want to get on, [you should] do a bit more learning. Therefore, taking a step up is just a natural course of events as far as I'm concerned.”</p> <p>Laura suggests that, particularly for those early in their careers, that stepping up to do additional work is inevitable. If you won’t do it, someone else will, and they will perhaps be more likely to secure the kind of career progression you might be looking for as a result. There is nothing nefarious with taking up the opportunity to show one’s employer that one is going the extra mile; it demonstrates ambition and a drive to succeed, which is beneficial both on an individual and company level.</p> <p> </p> <p>Key Takeaways</p> <p>When considering one’s career progression, it is good practice to imagine where you want to be after a certain period of time, then calculate backwards the steps required to get there from the position you are cur