Executives returning to work after maternity leave

One of the biggest challenges female executives and senior managers will face is returning to work after a break to learn the new role of being a parent. You are just about there and have learnt the art of multi tasking at a level you had never thought was possible when a letter drops through the letter box asking when you are coming back to work. This may be something that horrifies you or delights you and one thing is sure you will have challenges ahead.

Some of these challenges will be expected, for example arranging good child care or dealing with the emotional side of leaving baby while you go to work. Others may not be expected for example will your boss understand that you can no longer work long hours, will it be presumed that you are no longer serious about your career because you are a mum. How are you going to make sure that you leave the office on time to pick up baby without a briefcase full of work still to be done? Think of yourself as an elastic band being pulled wider and wider. If you allow that elastic band to snap it will be useless, you may be able to put it back together again with a knot but it will never be the same again.

So here are some tips that may help to make sure you do not over stretch yourself:

Once you have to consider going back to work make sure you are completely ready.
Give some serious thought to how you are going to balance career and family. What do you want to achieve – what will your new life look like and feel like?
Who can help you balance career and family and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it?
Have a set of goals that will give you the life style you are looking for.
Sit down with your line manager and be clear on what he/she will expect from you going forward and explain what you can deliver. Don’t be afraid to document this conversation in case you need to refer back to it in the future.
If things start to get on top of you reprioritise to make sure the ‘elastic band’ does not snap.
Be sure to have someone who will listen to you and support you at times when you feel you are being stretched too far.
Remember that Superwoman is a fictional character and does not exist.