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By Vicki Owen
Niamh O’Keeffe, MD of First100, a global company which aims to help senior women executives return to work after maternity leave, is urging women not to feel guilt returning to work.
She says: ‘Once a woman has made the decision to return to work, they need to let go of their role as full-time mother and carry no guilt. When the woman is at home, they need to be fully at home and not juggling their laptop and BlackBerry while making the tea or reading a bedtime story. Equally, when they are at work, it is vital they are not constantly calling home to make sure everything is ok.’
Niamh adds: ‘The working mum needs to take time out regularly to check they have the balance right. It is also critical to set realistic expectations at work and at home as there are only so many hours in the day.’
First100, which has offices in London, New York and Dublin, works to put in place plans for women’s first 100 days in either a new role or the same role after returning from having a child.
The majority of the firm’s clients are male, but Niamh says she is finding an increasing number of senior women executives asking for help navigating their vital first 100 days in a role or when returning from maternity leave.
Niamh says plans like First100′s are becoming increasingly common-place within global organisations such as Vodafone, Accenture, Telefonica 02, BP, BT and Merck.
She says: ‘From my own personal experience and the feedback I receive from our consultants working with clients in the UK, Ireland and United States, female business leaders often make far more willing clients. Women are often easier to coach than their male counterparts and more willing to listen and take on board new skills to help them succeed in challenging roles. Sometimes senior male executives are instinctively more defensive and cynical and need a little longer to be persuaded as to the merits of the coaching.’
She adds: ‘Undoubtedly, one of the principal reasons why women are generally quicker to understand the benefits of working with companies such as First100 is that they face the added pressures of competing in a still male-dominated business world, many with the challenge of juggling huge responsibilities both at work and at home.
‘Putting in place a sound strategic plan for your first 100 days whether you are taking on a new role or returning from having a baby can make all the difference between success and failure.’
First100′s top tips for maternity returners:
· Let go of the previous role as full-time mother.
· Return to the work environment as a confident woman and leader.
· Find the right balance between the roles of mother and senior business executive.
· Everything will have changed so prepare well in advance.
Tags: Advice for working mums, guilt, Talking Talent, working mums
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