So many women I speak to almost ‘write off’ their maternity leave. Actually, maternity leave offers a unique opportunity to develop a wide range of skills that are highly transferable to a professional setting. Here are some key skills gained during maternity leave that can be valuable in a career:
1. Time Management and Prioritisation
Managing time effectively with a newborn requires exceptional prioritisation, as mothers must juggle multiple tasks such as feeding, sleeping schedules, and often other ‘home life’ commitments, social activities, potentially other children as well as family admin too.
Career Application: This enhances your ability to manage tight deadlines, multitask, and focus on what is most critical in the workplace.
2. Adaptability and Problem-Solving
Babies are unpredictable, and new mothers must constantly adapt to changing circumstances, solve problems on the fly, and manage unexpected situations.
Career Application: This skill is crucial in fast-paced work environments where flexibility and creative problem-solving are essential.
3. Emotional Intelligence
Understanding and managing both your emotions and those of your baby requires high emotional intelligence, particularly in stressful situations.
Career Application: Enhanced empathy, patience, and the ability to navigate interpersonal dynamics are valuable for leadership, team management, and customer relations.
4. Communication Skills
Mothers often become more attuned to non-verbal cues and learn to communicate effectively without words, which is important when dealing with a pre-verbal baby.
Career Application: This heightens awareness of subtle communication signals, improves active listening, and fosters clearer, more empathetic communication in the workplace.
5. Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Negotiating with a toddler and/or soothing a crying baby hones skills in negotiation and conflict resolution, often requiring patience, emotional regulation (of yourself!) and strategic thinking.
Career Application: These skills are directly applicable in resolving workplace conflicts, negotiating deals, and mediating between team members or clients.
6. Resilience and Stress Management
Handling the physical and emotional challenges of motherhood builds resilience, as new mothers often cope with stress and exhaustion including sleep deprivation (which is a form of torture let’s not forget!) whilst maintaining responsibilities and commitments
Career Application: This resilience is beneficial in managing workplace stress, bouncing back from setbacks, and maintaining a positive attitude under pressure.
7. Financial Management
Managing a household budget on maternity leave, often with reduced income, sharpens financial management skills.
Career Application: This enhances budgeting, financial planning, and resource allocation abilities in a business context.
8. Long-Term Planning
Planning for a child’s future, from education to healthcare, housing to financial stability requires strategic thinking and long-term planning.
Career Application: This is valuable in roles that require strategic foresight, such as business development or leadership positions.
In summary, maternity leave can significantly enhance a woman’s capabilities in time management, adaptability, communication, emotional intelligence, and several other critical areas, all of which are beneficial in various career paths.
So let’s not hide this time period under a line in our CV and feel like we ‘took time out’ – celebrate the skills you’ve gained, especially if you’ve had an extended period of time away from paid employment. It all counts and will make you a more focused, adaptable and pragmatic leader in any future role.
For more help in resetting your narrative on this to have impact in interviews and build your confidence in rejoining the workforce feeling valuable and focused, book a discovery call with me today. I can't wait to meet (all of) you!
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