Preparing your return to work after maternity or parental leave
You’ve just spent a few months focusing on your baby, focusing on your own health, and now your return-to-work date is looming.
You might be experiencing a range of feelings... anxious about going back to your old job as a different person... a bit lost about where to take your career... lacking confidence after so much time away... not sure how your new routine will work out...
Going back to work after a career break can be a difficult transition to manage. Most of the time, employers just expect people to slot back into their roles and responsibilities smoothly. But the reality is different.
Six years ago, I experienced a difficult return to work after my first maternity leave. It actually prompted me to change careers! But not everyone has to do that.
I have designed this programme to help moms and dads prepare for their return to work so that they feel confident and in control of their career.
Throughout our sessions, we will talk about your identity, your vision for the life and career that you want to have, your levels of resilience and how to develop them, and your personal organisation. This is a safe space where you can discuss mother/fatherhood, family life, career and life admin, but most importantly - it'll be about you. You will leave each session with a clear set of actions that you will feel committed to implementing.
This programme is both for mothers and fathers - if you take a career break to look after your child, you'll be facing the same challenges!
Here are the main themes that we will be covering in our sessions together.
This is not a structured process, as I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach in coaching. I might spend more time on a theme with a client, and more time on another theme with another client. But we'll definitely be talking about all of these aspects in our conversations.
You
We'll reflect on your parental leave, thinking what you've learnt about yourself and how it may have changed you. We'll also be exploring your new identity by discussing your values, strengths and passions.
Your life
We'll be clarifying what your vision of your future life and career is, and how you will get there. We'll talk about relationships, finances, personal growth, health, and you’ll come away with a set of goals and actions to find the right balance.
Your career
This is about defining your purpose and career vision, as well as exploring your strengths, personality traits, skills and motivations. You'll be working on building a strong and authentic career brand and an empowering career growth plan.
Your organisation
You will come away with a routine that will work for you and your family, thinking of the new logistics that you have to implement but also making sure you have time for yourself.
Resilience
We'll spend time understanding your current resilience levels and how to build them up so that you can manage the challenges and strong emotions that you will experience during this transition.
The details
We will cover these topics in 6 sessions over 3 to 6 months. I’d recommend starting this programme 2 months before going back to work. This will help you prepare for your return to work, as well as get a safe and supportive space to download everything on your first months back at work. You can also keep a few sessions to catch up later.
Sessions are usually 60 to 90 minutes and it's best to arrange them every 2 or 3 weeks. Weekly sessions are also possible but in my experience, it makes the process a lot more intense for you! I also sometimes suggest exercises that you can explore in between sessions.
If you're taking your growth and wellbeing seriously, you'll know that you have to invest your time, energy and money into coaching. However, I'm conscious that being on maternity or parental leave has a financial impact on your family budget, on top of all the baby stuff that you have to buy now! So I have decided to keep my return-to-work coaching sessions at a slightly lower rate of £90 (instead of £100).
The total cost is £540, which you can pay in monthly payments.
If it sounds like something that you’d find helpful, let’s have a chat!