Sue Dorsey: 8 tips to ensure work-life balance in development

Twelve years ago, Sue Dorsey, CFO of Water for People, was wondering how to blend her passion for business with social justice and international affairs. She found her answer by becoming the first employee for an international microfinance and education start-up organization based in Colorado. As its executive director, Dorsey helped grow Friendship Bridge into a nonprofit with $5 million in assets, but in the meantime she also got married and had three kids. Attaining the perfect life-work balance is hard to achieve, and notoriously difficult in the development industry. Travel ruffles routines, hours can be long and strange, appointments hard to keep and home base may even change. That’s why Dorsey decided to leave Friendship Bridge and take on the role of CFO at Water for People. In an interview with Devex, she explained that what’s important if finding your own equilibrium around what that balance looks like for you: “It’s an individual decision and there is no right or wrong answer. But be true to yourself on what that balance is because living outside of it for any length of time is not sustainable.” Dorsey shared her tips for finding a successful work-life balance, including why passion for your work is essential to making life challenges worthwhile and when it’s OK to let go of how things are run at home. 1. Find your passion If you are passionate about what you do, it makes the tough travel and long hours absolutely worth it. When you see and experience the impact your work has, it is the best feeling in the world. If you are not passionate about the work, it’s just a job and makes the challenges that come with it that much harder to absorb. 2. Choose a supportive partner A spouse or partner who is fully supportive of your work and passion relieves a tremendous burden of guilt when you need to be away from home. Be open with your partner and your kids about what this work means to you and to the world. Your kids may not understand when they are young, but as they grow up they have a sense of pride in the work that you do. Supportive partners go both ways — it’s important to be supportive of your partner’s work as well. Find out what is helpful to your partner — such as grocery shopping or arranging play dates for the kids — when you’re away and commit to doing it. 3. Find a good organization Find an organization that cares as much about their staff as they do about their mission. A good organization understands that happy, engaged and balanced staff makes the mission happen. That organization values work-life balance and allows for flexibility in when and where you work, provides comp time to recover after long travel and encourages creative time within the work week. 4. Find your voice Even if the organization really values work-life balance, don’t be afraid to speak up with suggestions on new and different opportunities for staff. For example, many organizations understand the needs of parents with young children but may not know how to accommodate parents of older children that need a different type of support. Similarly, organizations may have policies that are geared toward staff with children, but don’t consider staff without children. If you have a work-life balance issue, it’s likely you aren’t the only one, so speak up and make suggestions with an understanding that organizations can’t meet every need. 5. Discover a mobile hobby Bring your hobby with you when you travel. If it’s running, throw your shoes in the suitcase and find places that are safe to run or exercise. If it’s bird watching, bring your binoculars. This helps you to keep up some of your work-life balance routine while away. 6. Keep in touch Technology allows you to keep in touch with home for a minimal cost while you are away. Set up a designated time that you can Skype or call. Checking in with home every day — even briefly — can help you feel connected to your family and friends. 7. Don’t sweat the small stuff Rules in the household may be different when you are away than when you are at home. Be open to how your partner handles things as long as no one or thing is in danger. If it’s Pop-Tarts for breakfast when mom is away, you might need to be OK with that. Instead of walking the dog, your partner pays the neighbor to do it. You can’t control everything while you are away, so be open about what is important to you and then trust your partner to put their own stamp on it. Running a household with one or two incomes is always a partnership. 8. Take care of yourself Travel is exotic and fun, but can also be exhausting and hard, both physically and emotionally. If you need to take a personal day for yourself even though you just got home to your family and friends, take it. You will be back emotionally and physically quicker than if you don’t. Read more international development career advice. See more related articles: - Working parents in international development: The trade-offs - Dual-career couples on the move - Daddy aid worker