Watch your work-life balance

Mr Hargreaves, who is a graduate of Swansea University, revealed that part of his career has been spent in the Army.

Presumably, that's where - like IDS - he acquired his Sandhurst-style intonation. And Mr Hargreaves was full of no-nonsense, practical advice. He said: "I coach a lot of executives who are basically knackered. "They're in their mid-40s, at the peak of their careers, and at the same time coping with wayward children and parents who are increasingly infirm.

"At work they're being challenged to raise output with fewer resources while complying with increasing regulation."

He said stress levels have increased dramatically during the last decade due to factors such as globalisation (international markets accounting for business being conducted around the clock), loss of job security, new technology, outsourcing, downsizing, etc.

"Eighty per cent of doctor visits are stress-related, as are seven million days off per year and a £2 billion NHS bill. "In your business stress will manifest itself in low morale, bad health, lack of commitment, poor quality work, absenteeism and high staff turnover." Although things have got worse, the study of work life balance did not begin yesterday.

Mr Hargreaves quoted from a 1924 book by Arnold Bennett called How to live on 24 hours a day.

And delving back even further he cited the Bible's example of God working for six days and resting on the seventh.

Mr Hargreaves said that to put things back on track you had to begin with a work-life action plan.

This embraced four potential rooms for manoeuvre: changing the cause of the imbalance; developing the skills to cope; striving for a balanced lifestyle; and working on one's own mind.

Mr Hargreaves quoted how he once changed the root cause of a major imbalance in his own life.

"I had bought a house in Oxfordshire, to get closer to the country. "But my work was in London and every morning I had to be on the M40 at 6.10am to have any chance of arriving on time.

"I wouldn't get home before 8pm and never actually saw the country. "At weekends I would be so exhausted I couldn't get out of bed. "One night, in yet another traffic jam, I just thought, this is stupid, so I sold the house and moved into central London.

"I was getting home before 6pm wondering what to do with my evenings!" The developing skills element of the plan was exemplified by the executive who becomes stressed about presentations and report writing - "Go on courses to master these or get a job which doesn't entail making them." Mr Hargreaves suggested that a balanced lifestyle meant alloting time to exercise and developing hobbies outside of work.

Most Brits, it seems, can accept this, but we're less prepared to tackle the "working on the mind" element.

"Usually we're not stressed by events but by our interpretation of them. "But for some reason we're very reluctant to examine our own psychology. "There are plenty of books around for those who want to give it a try. "And the rewards for a bit of positive thinking can be profound." Mr Hargreaves said it was very important for managers to lead by example.

He illustrated how not to do it with the story of a high-achieving contact who is a senior partner in a law firm.

"This man gives everything to the firm during the week and is frequently in the office into the early hours.

"He told his staff that he didn't expect them to do the same, but if they wanted to reach the top they are obviously going to copy his example. "He didn't point out to them that at 43 he was on his third marriage and is a physical wreck."

Mr Hargreaves' presentation was first-class, and if this was anything to go by, his books (he's written at least three) should be worth reading. The People in Business Club organises series of breakfast and lunch-time business speakers, most of whom provide a ready-source of inspiration and entertainment.

If you would like to join call Rydian Harry at ELWa on 01443 663 663.