Chief Mom Officer 👩👦
Time to make the workplace more mom-friendly
The COVID-19 pandemic brought about many dramatic changes in the workplace. Not only did it create new standards for what employees expect (flexibility, remote work, increased benefits), it also led to the Great Resignation and a significant number of workers leaving the workforce.
In fact, nearly two million women have decided to stay at home instead of returning to work. That means employers are missing out on an untold amount of talent that could contribute to their organizations’ innovation and growth. While every mother should have the ability to choose whether she wants to stay at home or not, what if we recreated how we structure work so it doesn’t need to be a difficult choice? How about finding ways to attract moms by offering a new way of working that is a win-win for both the company and mothers?
My son Víctor Steven is about to turn one year old on November 11. Over the past year I’ve learned a lot about being a working mom. I’m so grateful that I work from home and have a flexible schedule. I’ve also thought a lot about how we can create a workplace that helps moms nurture their family while also investing their talent in a career they love.
We have the opportunity right now to create a future of work that provides women the flexibility they seek while also helping them build a fulfilling career. We need more Chief Mom Officers—moms who don’t have to choose between their families and their careers. The first step is to change how we think about the nature of work and examine the unhealthy standards we’ve created that prioritize work over family.
Earlier this year my friend Maggie McCloud wrote about how we need to shift our mindsets about working moms. She’s an entrepreneur and new mom (our sons were born within a month of each other!). Maggie shared how she wants to create a workplace culture that welcomes “babies in the boardroom.”
She often brings her little guy, Sun, with her to investor meetings. While some people may find it odd to balance a baby on your lap while giving an investor pitch, Maggie seeks to help open minds about what it means to be a working mom:
“For me, [babies in the boardroom] captures what I’m here to create. A new culture that supports mamas and their babes. Transforming the world of business to be inclusive of family. Opening adult eyes to the wisdom of children.”
This year, I had Víctor Steven with me at some business dinners here in Austin. It was so much fun to introduce him to colleagues and share a more personal side of my life with them.
It’s delightful to see colleagues’ children popping onto the screen during Zoom meetings. Post-pandemic, we all have stories about and experiences with children running around in the background of video calls. It’s a positive trend that we need to encourage if we want to create a more conscious workplace that works for everyone.
As employers grapple with a tight labor market and the need to attract top talent, they have the opportunity to create a culture that welcomes working moms. Consider the policies, benefits, and internal structures that will make it possible for moms to work either full-time or part-time in your organization.
Re-examine your mindsets; question the accepted norms about the workday, where work takes place, and how work is delivered. How can you, as a conscious leader, “transform the world of business to be inclusive of family”? Together, we can create a culture where moms can work happy, live happy, BE happy.
Work happy. Live happy. BE happy.
Meredith
P.S. Check out my Subscriber-only podcast. You can listen to this newsletter and support my work!
The way we work and build teams is rapidly changing. Leaders often feel unprepared to navigate the transition. As a conscious leadership coach, consultant and communicator, Meredith helps leaders and their teams create new ways of working and relating so they can prepare for the future by consciously co-creating it.
Contact her to develop your conscious leadership and transform your organization into the workplace of the future.
You can support my work developing more conscious leadership in the world by investing in a paid subscription to this newsletter. Upgrade your subscription today!
Connect with Meredith on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for content related to these topics.www.MeredithTurney.com