Adrienne Little, business director at creative advertising consultancy 18 Feet & Rising, on why becoming a mum has helped her return to work as a more driven and effective employee.
Compassion, drive, ambition, effectiveness and clarity of thinking – are these not all traits we would want in an employee?
I don’t think you can be a mum without having these abilities. It doesn’t happen overnight – originally dubbed ‘my maternity holiday’ and quickly renamed ‘my new job’ – I, as all new parents are, was put on an intense training programme that guaranteed me a crash course in these skills.
I’m tempted to say “I am one of the lucky ones,” because my business is independently owned, a B Corporation and we have, I think, a great maternity policy, flexible working hours and a genuinely supportive team. All this makes it possible to leave the office every day at five to pick up my daughter from nursery. But I shouldn’t have to feel lucky; this should be the norm, especially since the skills you develop as a full-time parent could give every business a serious competitive advantage – and here’s why....