“If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then, you are an excellent leader.” – Dolly Parton
If you have inspired your little one to take just one bite of broccoli at dinner, to learn how to tie her shoes despite the bunny ears not looping correctly or to study for what your kid thinks is the most boring subject in the world, you are an excellent leader, momma!
You inspire, motivate, teach, and spark positive change in the lives of others. So what if you were the one to change their diapers? Motherhood IS leadership, and leadership is needed in the workplace today more than ever. If you are ready to return to paid work after a career pause or are considering a career transition, it’s time to learn how to position yourself as a leader by using your daily experiences to showcase your abilities. Are you ready for the challenge to claim your motherhood leadership skills?
The Top Leaderships Skills That Are Sharpened Through Motherhood
You may be wondering how doing a bottomless pit of laundry, breaking up sibling squabbles, and changing diapers has anything to do with leadership…let alone leadership in the workplace. Here are a few ways that you have been sharpening your leadership skills through motherhood every single day.
Leading By Example
Kids are sponges, aren’t they? The words that you say and the actions you take will come back to you when they start doing what you do and saying what you say. You always take care to choose words that will uplift and encourage them, and to show them how to be kind and loving towards others by making good choices. Because what they see and hear impacts what they say and do. To position yourself as leadership potential for a new job, lean in to this. Adults also need to be led by example. Toxic workplaces ensue because leaders show their teams what they need to do to get ahead by their own words and actions. You can embody a healthy, collaborative workplace by bringing the skills you’ve developed as a mother to “raise” teams that are thoughtful, deliberate, and kind.
Communication and Conflict Resolution
You’ve learned how to communicate clearly to each person in your household, customizing your methods to their personality styles and, let’s be honest, mood. Communication is key to being an inspirational leader at work, and you’ve learned how to do it well in pretty much any situation. From high stress situations (tantrums, anyone?) to when encouragement and morale boosting is needed (the world is collapsing because teddy is lost!), you navigate the hard conversation with patience and experience.
Here’s a practical exercise from a past Parents Pivot blog article on communication and conflict resolution that can help you practice workplace transferable communications skills:
If your children aren’t completing their chores on time, communicate your expectations clearly for the next time. Then, set and communicate realistic consequences if they miss their “deadline” or don’t do a good job. Telling them in person and then putting it in writing on the fridge (if they are old enough to read) is a great practice.
Adaptability
If there is one thing that is true in motherhood, it’s that your routine and schedule won’t stay the same for long. Change is inevitable and swift when kids are around. Once you finally feel like you have the nap schedule down, your child will decide it’s time to drop a nap. Once you finally have a handle on your after-school schedule, your kids’ extra curricular groups change and you have to adjust again. Adaptability - responding to changing circumstances - is an incredibly valuable skill in the workplace. Just like children, our world is changing at an unprecedented pace thanks to technological advances. If you aren’t changing with it, you’ll get left behind. Don’t be afraid to speak up about your ability to adapt and flex with the good of everyone else in mind. When working with a team, you’ll be the backbone of the group if you can do this well.
Strategic Thinking
You know how you flex your muscles as a super mom by successfully managing summer camp schedules, vacation logistics, that huge home improvement project, a meal and laundry schedule, all while keeping everyone (relatively) happy? That takes strategic thinking from a mastermind! At home, you have to think 5 steps ahead, consider budgets and schedules, and preferences. As a leader at work…ditto! Your experience running things at home, and how you strategically place commitments, responsibilities, and opportunities into the fold is highly transferable to your experience as a leader.
Empathy and Emotional Intelligence
Motherhood is beautiful because it opens up our eyes to see things from a different perspective. It’s not just about us anymore. We have empathy that runs deep and raising a child produces emotional intelligence for how to use our emotions to make things better. We use empathy to diffuse situations, resolve conflict, build relationships, and relieve stress. Your children respond positively to you when they feel seen, heard, and understood. The same is true of adults at work. No one wants to follow a leader who sits on a high tower. They want someone who can meet them where they are and work out the kinks of business with them. You’re the perfect person for the job.
Embrace Your The Leaderships Skills That Motherhood Has Given You
If you are ready to pivot back to paid work after a career break while you cared for your children, or are already in the workplace but looking to switch careers, now is a great time to do so! Explore the many free resources offered by Parents Pivot on our website, from the Return To Work Must Haves Video to Overcoming Aging Checklist, to our blog, and self guide care. We also offer 1:1 and group coaching that provides customized, strategic action steps you can take to secure the job of your dreams! We can’t wait to partner with you in your return to paid work.
