The thought of returning to work after a long absence can be daunting. It’s a challenge many business women face after taking leave for maternity, and she’ll often feel some doubts and lack of confidence.
Have things changed? Will people respect her the same way? What should she expect? It is statistically proven that 70% of women fear taking a career break, concerned about whether they can master a smooth return.
The Business Woman has strategies that you can apply for both before you plan on taking your leave, how to maximize your opportunities while you are away and also what to expect once you return.
So you can take leave with confidence, and march right back into the office as if you’d never been away.
Prepare returning to work before you leave
Simply put, don’t just leave. Prepare beforehand so your return will be smooth and simple. The Business Woman Media founder and CEO Amanda Rose recommends having a discussion with your HR division or your boss about returning policies and ensuring there is a mutual understanding. If the absence is not covered by maternity leave arrangement and there is no option to return, you need to know before you consider taking leave.
She also advises to not go into too much detail. Your boss doesn’t need to know your personal reasons for requesting leave. Approach the first discussion from a hypothetical basis, and formulate your plan after you’re armed with knowledge about your company’s policies.
Don’t become invisible when returning to work
Just because you are away, doesn’t mean you do nothing work-related. While away, the small things can end up being foundational building blocks for your return. Make use of social media, maintaining your profile and standing in your field. Ensure LinkedIn is up to date and that your connections are strong. Coffee meet- ups and even quick chats over the phone with connections are recommendable by Amanda Rose. “Don’t cut yourself off,” she advises.
Use this time to build relationships, but also use it as a way to keep up-to-date with qualifications and training. If you can see a risk of your skill set lagging while you are away, put steps in place to enhance your training and qualifications ⎯ online courses are a great strategy ⎯ thus becoming more employable. Along with this, see if you can consult and work on projects to maintain momentum, confidence and expertise.
Returning to work won’t hurt you
Stay confident. The biggest issue with women who return to the workplace after an absence is a lack in confidence. How you think is how you act.
While away, you worked hard to keep your connections and training current, and now is the time to reap the benefit. Make it seem as if you only left yesterday. If you have kept up-to-date with your contacts, this will be the reality to most of them.
On your return expect changes. There will be new faces and possibly new methods of doing things. Ensure that your confidence is maintained by presenting yourself at your best. When you look confident, it helps you feel confident. Amanda Rose stands by the maxim that looking the part and being the part are important. “Give yourself a makeover – People see faster than they think,” she says..
