Being a high performing part timer

I work in a very high commitment organisation. For many people, working long days or taking work home is a regular part of life; this isn't necessarily a negative, as it mainly stems from a strong belief in our direction and potential as an organisation, and the sense that we are all working together towards the same success. This is increasingly common for organisations and I have no doubt that many others share the same experience.

Working in this kind of environment, it's very easy to equate being a high performer - i.e. consistently contributing above the level of competence/effort required for your role - with putting in extra time. Before going on maternity leave, I wouldn't have particularly challenged this thinking. On returning to work, for 3 1/2 days a week, I feel differently about it.

I should explain, first, that I love my job (and I'm not just saying that because most of the company are on Twitter). I love it even more because I've been given the chance to return from maternity leave to a promotion, and am still able to aim to progress in my role & career on reduced hours - something which isn't always easy despite all the progress that has been made in protection against discrimination. Although it has been hard to adjust to leaving my daughter in nursery, and balance all the practical elements (see last post!), I've never doubted that this is the right thing for me to do...I know it wouldn't suit everyone. I am as committed to work, and to doing a great job, as I ever was.

However, it looks different now. I have the obvious practical restraints - nursery pick-up is non-flexible, so I can't drop everything and stay behind for a last minute meeting or to finish something off. I can take work home - but if I do, I will be failing to do something at home that needs sorting out. It can be done for emergencies or times of extreme pressure; it can't be a normal way of life. From the outside, I now look like one of those people who work their contracted hours and not a moment more, and I don't like it! This has led me to consider what high performance actually is, and how I can achieve it within my practical constraints - also, in my role in HR, whether I can help others to assess it!

So, taking long hours out of the equation, I think high performance involves:

• Pushing yourself to achieve more, or a higher quality, than is strictly "required" for your role
• Identifying and implementing (as far as you can) improvements or changes, rather than blindly doing what you've always done
• Embodying your organisation's values, whatever they are - one of ours is pace, so I'm focused (for myself and my team) on delivering information, change, advertised vacancies, feedback...whatever is required...at a pace that matches the way the rest of the business work.
• Being one step ahead - understanding your role to the extent that you are able to pre-empt potential problems, and you can contribute, at whatever level is appropriate, to decisions about your team's direction
• Looking for extra challenges...
• ...and never just passing time till the end of the day (except maybe the day after the Christmas party!)

This has taken me ages to write and I've had to think really hard about it, because the attitude I'm trying to describe is difficult to define. I think someone who consistently over performs at work will be doing the above unconsciously - it's just how they "do" work - so it isn't something that usually gets put into words.

I'm not suggesting this just applies to people who work part time - just that it may need more careful consideration in our cases, as the high commitment/performance is not as visible!

What do you think? Is it even a valid question? I'm happy to be disagreed with. I also understand that many people don't particularly strive to be a high performer...work is about providing for life outside, and progression or approval at work are not as important to everyone as they are to me...we all need to do what suits our temperaments, life stage and current needs!