I'm sure we all remember being asked "What do you want to bewhen you grow up?" a dozen times as a kids. Back then, the optionswere endless...firefighter, astronaut, teacher...or in my case,veterinarian! And while we may not have all followed the same pathwe set out for at age five, chances are many of our answersdescribed careers we saw as fun, fulfilling and something we couldbe proud of.

Even today, officially a "grown up" and working full-time infinance, I still ask myself that same question, but now with aslightly different spin....

When I think of what type of work environment is ideal, threecharacteristics stand out:

Work/Life balance
It's that buzz wordwe've all heard and one of the hottest topics in talent managementtoday. While we're not afraid of a little hard work, most of us arenot looking for a job that defines our lives 24/7. Although it'seasy to get caught up in the routine of working late during theweek, putting in extra hours over the weekend or postponingvacation, it's important to take time for yourself. Whether it's afew hours or a couple of days, we all need a chance to refuel...andmore often than not, we return reenergized and ready to work! Fromflexible work hours and telecommuting options to encouraging andpromoting time off, Zurich offers a number of options to helpemployees find that right balance.

Work that matters
At the end of the day,we're all looking to leave the office with a sense of pride,accomplishment and personal satisfaction. We want to know our workmatters. Meaningful assignments and seeing the link betweenindividual contributions and company performance can be incrediblyrewarding. Understanding a company's strategy is a criticalcomponent and Zurich does a great job communicating its aspirationsthrough clear employee objective setting, frequent emails andonline articles from senior leadership and quarterly Infosharemeetings.

Feedback and recognition
You can do it! We grew up receiving constant feedback fromteachers, parents and peers and now, in my work life, I notice Icontinue to look for that same guidance. Whether it's a simplethank you note for a job well done or an encouraging suggestion forimprovement, a little goes a long way. Both positive coaching andconstructive criticism can help us learn from mistakes and providethat extra momentum to move forward in our careers. Zurichrecognizes the importance of rewarding employees through its manyincentive programs and for me personally, the Finance organizationmakes a conscious effort to acknowledge individual and teamaccomplishments at group meetings.