When considering a career transition we are often told to identify the “transferable skills” we can take from one career to the next. But how would this idea work when the next “career move” involves nine months of preparation and some very new and significant responsibilities?
Whether you plan to take a short period of maternity leave or join the ranks of the stay-at-home mum for a while, it’s no surprise that a baby will bring changes and challenges to your personal life and your career.
Alysha Casey, clinical psychologist at The Institute for Healthy Living says that certain “values, mindsets and behaviours” developed in the workplace can make the adjustment to motherhood challenging for professional women. However, she adds that there are also some skills and strengths that professional women can call on when taking on the role of mum.
So, what are the “transferable skills” that might help you as a new mum, and what things should you leave behind as you farewell your colleagues for a while?
Communication skills — take
Research confirms that relationships are put under stress when a baby arrives, largely as a result of the lack of sleep that goes hand in hand with becoming a new parent. A possible solution is available in one of the most common transferable skills: communication.
“When you have a problem with a colleague or are struggling with your KPI’s at work, the most effective response is to communicate. The same goes for being a new mum. Talk to your partner, to other new mums and to medical professionals about any concerns you have for yourself or your baby,” says Casey. “Talking is known to be useful for relieving stress that builds when you are doing your best in a new role.”
High levels of productivity — leave behind
While caring for a baby is arguably one of the most important jobs you will ever undertake, it’s easy to get lost in the monotony of nappy changes, feeds and settling. Especially when you are accustomed to the fast-paced, outcome-focused corporate world.
“Many women struggle to accept that they can no longer achieve as many objectives when they are caring for a baby,” says Casey. “When an achievement for the day is now getting the baby to sleep or cooking a meal, some women don’t gain the same sense of achievement they are used to experiencing when they finish a big report or negotiate a deal.”
Jodie Benveniste, psychologist and parenting expert, agrees that this transferable skill is something that would be best left in the workplace. “Babies set a very different pace and timetable and their needs are constant. It can feel like you’ve achieved nothing even though you’ve spent day and night caring for your baby.”
Attention to detail — leave behind
This is another “skill” to leave behind. Housework, hours at the hairdresser and your polished appearance may take a hit in the early stages of motherhood. Relax your expectations. Focus on the broader goal of caring for your baby and getting through the exhausting initial period of new motherhood. Casey says that while attention to detail is a strong value in the workplace it can often cause women to feel on edge and anxious as they adjust to having a baby who is not always predictable
Time management skills — take
Perhaps one of the most useful transferable skills for motherhood is time management. And it’s something that most women feel they develop special expertise in while juggling the demands of a new baby with being a working mum. Casey agrees and says new mums can put time management skills to good use in a practical way. For example, she says “writing a short list of tasks to achieve whilst the bub is sleeping can help women to achieve tasks even when feeling tired and stressed”.
Ability to delegate — take
While the picture perfect motherhood moments will happen, sometimes they get lost amongst all that extra work. Forget the concept of overtime or weekend work, your baby will need you around the clock. Casey says that many professional women have developed such a sense of independence and a desire to achieve that their first instinct during the overwhelming early days of motherhood may be to refuse any offers of help. “Think twice about doing this,” she cautions, “delegating tasks to other willing people can make your life a lot easier … little things like asking your husband to pick up dinner or getting your mum to watch the baby for a few hours can make the world of difference to that drowning feeling of being overwhelmed.”
Willingness to learn — take
While we may be at the top of our game career-wise, a baby is a whole new playing field. Benveniste reminds us that “raising children is a learning experience that none of us have trained for. Be open to change, have a willingness to learn … be open to what each day brings and marvel at your beautiful little baby.”