HOW MOTHERHOOD ENHANCES PROFESSIONAL GROWTH

Motherhood can be an opportunity to grow personally and professionally. According to the book and platform, ‘Maternity as a Master’ (MAAM), based on scientific and psychological studies, the transition into motherhood revitalizes energy levels and enhances the essential skills needed in professional settings.

In a study published by the law firm 'Slater & Gordon' in 2014, over half of women believe that if they are pregnant, their bosses and colleagues would have a bad impression on them. More than 60 percent of women also think that motherhood would limit their career options.

In reality, this is not merely a mental diatribe made by women. In a study done by 'Slater & Gordon' which investigated 500 companies, 38 percent of employers are conservative about hiring a woman between the age of 20-40 which is considered the ‘childbearing age’ and a third would rather hire men between the age of 20 and 30 years old.

According to the executive coaches and writers of the book ‘Maternity as a Master’ Riccarda Zezza and Andrea Vitulo, after comparing various scientific studies and carrying out research for more than two years, “motherhood is an added value” which “companies must know and use in their capacity to multiply skills and energize and could be experienced by women and employers as a period of professional growth and updating." This message has penetrated to such an extent that they have developed a true online master of the skills that parents develop, such as greater flexibility, greater decision-making, or creativity, which companies such as Coca-Cola have started teaching their employees in Italy. It teaches all the skills that are improved once working employees have entered parenthood and that can be of help to the company. It is necessary to be aware of them, otherwise they are looked at as weaknesses or setbacks.

 Traditionally, maternity leave is seen as a time of interruption of training schedules and work-related tasks, with the risk of women feeling disconnected and can undermine the moment in which they return to work, leaving them unmotivated.
HOW MOTHERHOOD ENHANCES PROFESSIONAL GROWTH
According to Graig Kinsley, professor of Neuroscience at the University of Richmond, when women become mothers, “new neurons and new connections are produced all the time.”
Here are some tips to help new mothers turn these new connections into strengths in their workplace: 

1. Motherhood Improves Time Management. 

Mothers tend to quickly learn to see what their children's priorities are, not only that, but they also see the choices they make and the repercussions that come with it. Women become more efficient and have a better understanding of what is the most important in each situation.

2. Mothers Manage Complexity and Change Better. 

A complex problem, like a child's illness, is broken down into small tasks that they can better manage to complete. This means that in complex work situations, they master the ability to divide it into small, manageable actions.

3. Mothers Focus on Solving Problems.

Decision-making can no longer be postponed when it comes to a child; they learn to manage to do the same in companies without procrastinating. 

4. Mothers learn to Delegate More.

They rely on their husbands, grandparents, or nannies to care for the children. Mothers learn to give up believing that they can do everything, and ego no longer comes in the way of doing work efficiently.

5. Motherhood Improves Communication. 

Mothers learn to explain complex things to children and that translates into a greater ability to communicate with people at different levels.

6. Motherhood Increases Empathy. 

A mother knows how to read emotions and can see if it is necessary to respond to someone who shows anger, or if they simply understand that they are venting, and it is better to wait to solve the problem.

7. Mothers Learn to Listen Actively and Have the Ability to Read Beyond the Words.


They can see the real reason behind their child’s crying and the same with clients at work. And not only that, but mothers also learn to negotiate.

8. Motherhood Forms the Ability to Create Alliances. 

They look for other mothers to take their children to school, to pick them up, to go to extracurricular activities, and to leave behind the fear of asking questions and asking for favours.

9. Motherhood Fosters Creativity.

Mothers learn to unlearn, which removes the prejudices that condition creativity.



Motherhood comes with many benefits, not only does it give you the opportunity to learn and to teach everyday, it also helps you be one step ahead in your career. Do you have preconceived notions of motherhood? Would you be more open to changing your
viewpoint now?
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