Helping people to learn, grow and maximise their potential
Of course, having a baby is an exciting time, but it is also a life changing experience that can be challenging both physically and emotionally. We know that the experience can affect a woman’s identity personally and professionally. A maternity coach provides an independent support and a confidential sounding board. It is a safe, non-judgemental space that enables women to open up and talk freely to get to the heart of their concerns and ultimately work towards achieving a better work/life balance.
Develop People provides coaching support for professional women going on maternity leave to help ensure a smooth transition and a successful return to work. By providing this support, our client organisations can have a positive impact on the attraction, retention and increased engagement of talented women in the workplace. A maternity coaching scheme can be tailored to an organisation’s requirements, but typically a programme comprises of 3 virtual coaching sessions. There is no set agenda for each session, but we find a common set of issues will often arise at each stage of the process.
The first session is held a month or two before going on leave and provides the opportunity to reflect on the changes ahead and the impact on one’s life and career, discuss any personal fears and concerns, plan the work handover and consider how to stay in touch whilst on leave.
The second session is held a month or two before the return and can focus on confidence and dual identity issues, explore concerns around leaving one’s child, discuss practical considerations regarding childcare and work/life balance, and how to get back up to speed.
The third session is held a month or two after returning to work and can focus on the pressures of juggling work and family commitments, explore how to manage time, energy levels and deal with own and others’ expectations and look at how to increase their personal profile.