Lots of the mums I talk to plan to go back to work or get serious with their business when their kids start school in September. If that’s you too, you may well be feeling a range of emotions and a whole load of chatter going on in your head about whether it’s the right thing to do, or whether now is the right time to do it. Perhaps you don’t want to go back to the career (or employer) you had before and you’re stuck on what you can do instead.
It can be incredibly powerful, life-changing even according to Ashley, to work with a coach when you go back to work after a career break or redundancy. When you work with a coach, you will achieve your goals more quickly and with more confidence. The role of a coach is to support you, encourage you, and challenge you to make that transition into the workplace less scary, less daunting, less intimidating and more fun.
How to self coach through transition
Working with a coach is a significant investment (and you are worth it). However you can use coaching questions to self coach. While it’s not as effective as working with a coach like me one-to-one or as part of a group, it is a great way to top up your coaching investment or to explore how powerful coaching could be for you as you transition from career break mum to ‘working mum’. (And here’s my confession. I hate the phrase ‘working mum’ because we don’t talk about the ‘working dad’ anywhere near as much but for now it’s useful shorthand to describe a woman who enjoys her career and happens to be a mother too).
Discover how to self-coach your way through transition in this series of statements I am sharing for you to ponder and complete.
Before you start
Before you sit down with a blank piece of paper, do something to relax yourself first.
Switch your phone to silent and put it where you can’t see it.
Put on some happy music and dance around for a few minutes, 10 minutes of mindfulness or meditation, or maybe 10 minutes weeding in the garden (that always works for me). Whatever works for you to clear and open your mind to possibility before you start.
Exercise instructions
The idea of this exercise is to make the change more manageable and identify what further information you might need. Write out each of the statements below and then finish each statement with whatever pops into your head.
Just write it down.
Don’t worry what the thoughts are. Don’t edit them. Just capture them.
It’s whatever comes into your mind.
1. The change I want in my life is …
2. The main obstacle or barrier is …
3. The others involved in this change are …
4. The opportunity this change gives me is …
5. My desired result is …
6. What I do not yet know about this change and I would like to know is …
7. Those who will benefit from this change are …
8. If I don’t make this change …
9. What I least look forward to is …
10. What I most look forward to is …
How was that for you?
What ideas or thoughts have come out of this exercise that hadn’t previously occurred to you? Please do share in the comments below.
Maybe it’s left you more confused than ever. Or you realise that you’re at the stage where you don’t seem to be getting anywhere with knowing what you want to do about work or career. Maybe you want help, but you’re so confused or overwhelmed, that you don’t know what help you need. Or you’re tying yourself up in knots because you’re trying to fix everything at the same time. It doesn’t have to be that way.
Sometimes a conversation is all you need to get clarity, so let’s talk. And if you want more help than I can offer in a simple conversation, we can talk about that too. Click HERE to book your complimentary clarity call.
* p.s. this is adapted from an exercise in The Coaching Academy‘s Corporate & Executive Coaching Diploma programme.
Great questions and nice to see some of them relating to others, such as “Those that Will Benefit From this change are” another one I sometimes ask, “Who doesn’t stand to benefit from this change” and “who wouldn’t want you to change”
which is kind of along the Cartesian theme (and coincidentally I was doing on myself yesterday). Thanks Mike.
When I think back to 18 years ago when I went back to work after 7 months maternity leave, this would have been a great support tool.
I had certainly lost confidence in my ability to perform in the world of work after a 7 month break, but thankfully it didn’t take me long to get back into the swing of things and realised I was bringing newly learned skills such as juggling tasks and flexible thinking.
There are certainly some fantastic resources now available online which all help build confidence and help you reflect on priorities, sharing your learnings and tools is a helpful contribution Sherry. No. 6 gets you reflecting on growth be where you can look for support.
Thank you Emma.