Welcome back!
Making the decision to have a break from your career is never an easy one, but sometimes it can be inevitable. This is particularly appropriate when you have to make preparations for - and welcome into the World - a new arrival. Quite rightfully, the career must be on hold as the mum-to-be focuses on what’s ahead and places all her resources to work on the imminent arrival of the child, instead of the career. Our society rightfully accommodates the mum-to-be during these times and thankfully, she doesn’t have to worry about finances too much.
While some women put a great deal of effort into planning their entire working career around their life aspirations, planning in intricate detail what will happen from the moment they find out that they are expecting a child, all the way through a transition back to regular work, for most of us this represents a process of discovery. It is, after all, very difficult to plan your entire career and personal life in advance, most especially given the financial and economic uncertainties that we have encountered in recent times. Such economic turmoil is enough to throw anyone’s plans off track, but for the mother getting ready to return to work after her break, it can be a particularly stressful time.
Mum needs to be very confident when she returns to work after a career break, for a number of reasons:
First, she should remember that she was hired in the first place due to a combination of skills, ability, education and personality. This is a great combination that most human resources department heads are looking for and are equally aware represents a fairly rare find. Quietly and subtly, she should draw attention to these valuable assets!
Second, remember that there is nothing to feel guilty about. Within the society that we live, childbirth is a right that all women can claim and employers build their obligations into the fabric of their business. It is sure to be quite disruptive for any employer, but everybody can take this in stride and deal with it and it’s certainly not a reason for the mum to feel guilty.
Thirdly, it’s important to remember that the actual process of childbirth and family planning helps you to develop some notable planning and managerial skills, anyway. Don’t underestimate these important skills and remember that you will be able to convert them for use within the work environment, as well.
Fourth, remember that, on average, 50% of the workforce is made up of women, a large proportion of whom fully sympathise with your position, as they have been in your position! This almost guarantees a sympathetic approach from them, when you reappear.
Finally, your new family must be viewed as a fantastic achievement and one that you should be rightly proud of. Not only should you be proud of what you have done, but you should consider that, after the rigours of childbirth, anything that they can throw at you in the workplace should be relatively easy to handle.
Don’t worry if you think it’s too much for you, as professional coaching can help you get through it. Within our hectic daily lives, we have access to online coaching as a solution, where professional coaching for women returning from childbirth can really help to overcome any and all problems that lay ahead.
Amanda Alexander is the Director of Coaching Mums and a widely renowned ICF-accredited coach who delivers professional coaching programmes to working mums across the globe who long for more time, balance and fulfilment in their busy lives. Download our free eBook especially for working mums with 5 easy ways to achieve balance.
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