An international research team followed 147 double income couples for six weeks, all parents and full -time employees. The objective was to understand how the family organization can influence the results at work, and the observation is surprising. If juggling between family life and professional obligations may resemble daily survival, those who develop adaptation strategies are doing better than the others.
Scientists have baptized this dynamic “strategic renewal”. It manifests itself in multiple ways in the daily life of families: reorganization of childcare, redevelopment of living spaces to optimize telework, creation of calm areas dedicated to concentration, setting up of shared calendars or introduction of moments without screen to re -bring family ties.
By thus resuming control over their domestic organization, these parents develop a confidence that reflects directly on their professional life and makes them more creative in the face of changes. “”These deliberate and future adjustments allow families to respond with flexibility to changing requirements“Explains Dr. Siqi Wang, lecturer in organizational behavior and human resources management at Aston Business School and study co -author, in a press release.”They strengthen confidence, reduce stress and improve global operation at home as at work“.
A challenge for companies
These discoveries take a particular resonance in the current context of hybrid work. “”While the boundaries between domicile and office continue to fade, it is important that employers recognize how domestic dynamics influence performance“, observes Yasin Rofcanin, full professor in organizational psychology and human resources management at the University of Bath.
Published in the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, this study suggests that companies can amplify these benefits by rethinking their managerial approaches. Researchers recommend investing in programs including training on work-family dynamics, coaching and flexible work arrangements. Well-being programs, consulting services or family care assistance can also play a key role.
All of this has enough to upset the traditional perception of work-family balance. Rather than seeing these two universes as antagonistic forces, this approach reveals their potential for synergy. The challenges of the family daily life become laboratories where the skills of tomorrow are forged. For parents-employees, this observation offers a new perspective: their domestic organization efforts are not lost time, but indeed an investment in their professional development.