For years, the conventional wisdom for working mothers has been, “You can’t have your cake and eat it too.” In other words, you can be there for your children, or you can advance in your career, but not both. Fortunately, the winds are beginning to change, and women are finding that they can balance work and family. Here are five tips to help you:
Be a valuable team member
“Set standards for excellence,” “Distinguish yourself as someone really special; always be looking ahead.” Once you’ve become valuable to your employer, it will be much easier to stand up for what you need. Just be sure you always frame it in terms of how your company might benefit from the proposal you’re making.
Telecommuters don’t despair
For working moms with a telecommuting arrangement, lack of face time may influence a manager’s perception of how hard they’re working. There’s just something about the sight of people hunkered down at their desks that sends the “hard worker” message, even if what they’re really doing is paying their bills.
Working mothers need to be creative to make sure they get credit for a job well done. Propose up front how you plan to keep in touch, and then stick to your plan, whether it’s calling in frequently, sending regular e-mails or logging your hours. And since you’ve asked for flexibility from your employer, it’s only fair to be flexible in return. If some vital meeting comes up on a morning you weren’t supposed to be in the office, do your best to be there anyway.
Compensation matters
Some employers are going to be more sympathetic to your situation than others. According to Bravo, working mothers need three things: Time to deal with family responsibilities, a decent wage and access to quality care-giving resources. “Employers who do this have a better bottom line, and the main reason for that is employee loyalty.” “These policies cut down tremendously on turnover.”
Do some research
If you’ve decided to ask your company for a policy change on flextime, find other people who feel the way you do, and then come up with a plan together. Before you make your pitch, plan a strategy. “There’s a lot of power in anticipating what you might be asked and in being prepared with answers.”
Practise patience
There’s no doubt that with the ever-growing number of working mothers in the workforce, companies are taking another look at how business gets done. But women should also know that changes won’t take place overnight. It will be tougher for working mothers who don’t have a well-established track record on the job before they start making demands. According to Hamilton, women just need to hang in there. As the workplace continues to evolve, working mothers will be better off than ever before.
Meanwhile, your best strategy is to be a great employee. “If you are getting the job done and showing that you’re going the extra mile, if you aren’t just asking for breaks and special treatment but offering solutions, you’re much likelier to get what you need.”