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June 16, 2023
Finding the right balance between parenting and professional life can be a challenging task for many working parents. The good news is that the very act of being a parent can actually prepare you for a successful career return. Perhaps you are taking a career break to focus on raising your children and wondering how this choice will affect your career, or maybe you have already made the necessary arrangements to return to your professional life and seeking ways to leverage your parenting skills in the workplace. Either way, the skills and experiences you've gained from raising your children could be just what you need to make your comeback.
Parenting is a demanding role that requires a wide range of skills that are just as valuable in the workplace. Your role as a parent has likely developed your communication, multitasking, patience, and adaptability skills. You have learned how to prioritize tasks, delegate responsibility, and manage conflict resolution. As a parent, you have become an expert in time management and problem-solving. These are all essential skills in the workplace, and you can leverage them to your advantage when you return to work.
Furthermore, parenting also teaches you the importance of empathy and emotional intelligence. As a parent, you have to be attuned to your child's emotions and needs, and respond appropriately. This skill translates well to the workplace, where understanding and empathizing with colleagues and clients can lead to better communication and more successful outcomes. Additionally, parenting often requires creativity and thinking outside the box to solve problems and come up with new solutions. These skills are highly valued in many industries and can set you apart from other candidates in the job market.
Some of the skills you develop as a parent can effortlessly transfer to the workplace. For example, your ability to self-motivate yourself after sleepless nights taking care of your newborn can be easily transferred to meeting deadlines and working under pressure. Your skills in negotiation and compromise are also transferable to the workplace. As a parent, you have experience in negotiating with your child to eat their vegetables, complete their homework, or go to bed on time. These negotiation skills are just as valuable in the workplace when you need to find common ground and focus on the common goal.
Time management is a critical skill for any successful parent. From creating a workable schedule to juggling appointments, childcare, and household chores, your time management skills have undoubtedly improved with parenting. The good news is that the same skill will be valuable when it comes to returning to the workplace. You have learned how to prioritize tasks and manage your schedule efficiently while not compromising on the quality of work done. Additionally, your ability to manage your time effectively will make it easier for you to strike a healthy work-life balance.
Returning to work after taking a break to raise a family can be challenging. As a parent, you have already overcome challenges in raising your children. Lessons you learned from those challenges can be applied when navigating your career return. Your parenting experience has taught you resilience, patience, and problem-solving skills. You can transfer those learned experiences when developing a plan that leverages your parenting skills to build a successful professional career.
One of the most significant challenges for working parents is balancing work and family life. As a parent, you are no stranger to the demands and responsibilities that come with managing your family's daily routine. When returning to the workforce, it is essential to create a routine that balances your work and family life. You can leverage your parenting skills, such as time management, delegation, and prioritization, to ensure you strike a healthy balance that benefits both yourself and your family.
As a parent, you have learned how to nurture relationships with your family members. The same skill will be beneficial when it comes to building professional relationships. Your ability to connect with others and communicate effectively can help you grow your network or improve your relationship with colleagues and bosses. You can leverage your parenting experience in creating a positive work environment that fosters better communication and collaboration.
One of the primary takeaways from parenting is that you learn something new every day. You can apply some of these lessons learned to your career return. For instance, you have learned how to be patient, empathetic, and a better listener. You can leverage these qualities when working in a team or even when negotiating with your superiors. Leveraging your parenting experience, you can find creative solutions to complex challenges, be more approachable, and leverage empathy to build stronger professional relationships.
Raising children can expose you to a range of different emotions. Some moments are joyful, while others are challenging. Either way, parenting equips you with the skills needed to manage and regulate your emotions appropriately. You become more aware of your feelings and can use this awareness to control your actions. This emotional intelligence is also beneficial in the workplace. You can leverage empathetic listening to understand the emotions of your colleagues and clients.
Returning to the workforce can be a daunting task, but with a sound strategy, you can navigate the transition successfully. First, you must identify what you want to achieve in your career return. Secondly, you can leverage your parenting skills in developing a professional development plan. Lastly, ensure that you create a healthy work-life balance to mitigate the stress of juggling your professional and family obligations.
Nothing can prepare you for the challenges of parenting, but the experience can undoubtedly prepare you for a successful career return. The skills learned through being a parent, such as time management, adaptability, and emotional intelligence are just as essential in the workplace. As a working parent, you have already developed a range of the necessary skills to achieve success in your professional life. By leveraging your parenting experience and finding a balance between your work and home life, you can make a successful comeback to the workforce.
