The corporate climate may be changing when it comes to gender-balanced leadership, but it’s a slow, frustrating process. The United States ranks 31st worldwide on the list of best places for a mother to have a fulfilling career. Despite a cultural push for change, motherhood decreases female executives’ chances of being hired. Mothers who are hired are offered lower salaries, which decrease exponentially with each child. So how do female executives navigate the challenges of raising children while progressing their careers?
Mothers and Leadership
Although mothers receive a lot of flak for their split responsibilities, motherhood cultivates many of the traits that make superlative business executives. Mothers are well versed in managing time and prioritizing, adapting to change, and delegating responsibilities. Most mothers are predisposed to encouraging growth in others, making female CEOs more likely to develop strong executive teams. Motherhood often teaches female executives to find creative solutions to problems, both personally and professionally.
How to Balance Motherhood and a High-Level Career
According to numerous studies, career-driven women feel more responsibility towards managing the home than their husbands. What it means to effectively manage a career and a family differs from woman to woman, but most successful female CEOs suggest being realistic about what you can accomplish.
- Determine how much time you’re willing to devote to your career.
- Strategize each stage of executive career advancement.
- Discuss career obligations with your husband. Make a list dividing home management and childcare tasks, and determine an alternative for unexpected situations.
- Speak candidly to your executive team about the constraints motherhood places on your career, but don’t expect special treatment.
- Find ways to support your children’s extracurricular activities without shaving hours off your work schedule.
- Learn to compartmentalize your personal life and your executive career.
- Realize that some company cultures undermine mothers in leadership roles. Find a career that suits your personal and professional goals.
Female executives like Sheryl Sandberg have proven that mothers can be highly effective as CEOs, leaders, and business executives. Executive Resumes Atlanta can craft your leadership experiences into a marketing tool that can help you achieve your career goals.