Like many people, I have a complicated life. I lead one of my company's largest business units, Accenture Digital, in the UK and Ireland, sitting on the UK/Ireland Executive Board. I manage a team of almost 1,000 people, have three young children, aging parents, a working partner, live 120 miles from the office, and work part-time. When you write it all down, it sounds like an impossible equation.
But I am lucky enough to work for a global professional services company that recognizes the challenges of modern life and has brought in technology and working practices that help me live the life I want rather than always having to compromise. This technology means I can always stay connected. I can manage to be in two places at once when I need to be because of conflicting demands on my time. Presenting at a meeting via video link 20 minutes before a parent-teacher meeting would have seemed impossible a few years ago, but fast broadband and collaboration technologies make it a reality for me today.
Some of my friends ask me whether being "always on" is a problem-I don't believe it is. It is critical to create firm boundaries, both physical and mental, when working in a culture that embraces remote and flexible working. There is no point being enabled if you don't feel empowered to protect your non-work time.
If I am at home, my laptop stays in my study. I never look at e-mails when I'm spending quality time with my children. Actually, it is my 80-year-old mother who is the worst for constantly checking her smartphone at the dining table. She has embraced modern technology to an extreme level and is starting to set a bad example to her grandchildren regarding acceptable use of devices!