What are the risks of not offering return-to-work coaching to parents?

I imagine I am not the only return-to-work and career coach you are paying attention to. You may be scoping me out alongside my talented peers until you are ready to start the coaching process. You will be looking at my work, my values, my results and my pricing. But within this, you may have the question knocking around in your head. Do parents need support when they return? You know it, but you are having to convince others. Rather, I suggest you consider “What are the risks of NOT offering return-to-work coaching to parents?”

Before I move ahead, I’d like to share a little story with you. One that you may find familiar, yet it’s my story as a new parent starting a new role.

I returned to work when my youngest was TINY, less than 5 months. Back to a role I had held for a while, in an organisation that had fulfilled all my career aspirations to that point. But when I came back, things had changed. And more importantly, I CHANGED. It wasn’t long before it was clear that my career aspirations didn’t match, and I was ready for something new.

If I had a coach to support me through this, maybe I would have stayed? I could have found the words to share how I felt and crafted a role within that organisation that I had once loved so much.

We will never know.

Deciding to move to a new role and company can take a lot of soul-searching. When I knew I was ready to move to a larger organisation and team, I had a list of must-haves. I knew I wanted the not-for-profit sector, and I was determined to work with smaller/start up organisation, and students and graduates. Whilst in late 2006, when I was applying, there were a handful of graduate recruiters in the Midlands, I’d promised myself I’d not leave where I was to just “jump ship” to another commercial recruiter.

I knew my values and my deal breakers, and I was going to stick to them.

I found what I wanted and needed at the time and took my first career leap of faith. Leaving a permanent job for an 11 ½ month contract!

I started the role the week of my eldest’s first birthday; not only was I establishing myself in a new job, but I was also only six months into understanding who I was as a working parent. In less than 12 months, I’d become a parent for the first time, returned to work and then started a brand-new job at a new organisation.

I felt overwhelmed, hopeful and a little rudderless. All at the same time!

It’s where the seeds of The Balance Collective began.

Now, twenty years on, I have become the person I needed right then. I have spent over a decade working with parents supporting their return to work, career changes and balance needs. Utilising my two coaching qualifications, I work with Mums and Dads returning after their parental leave, as well as those looking to re-enter the workforce, change jobs and develop their confidence.

So, why am I sharing this with you?

I have been the leader, working to tight budgets, trying to balance outcomes with culture.

I have been the parent desperately trying to rebuild my confidence, my identity, and balance these new responsibilities with a role I once adored.

As I sit on the “other side” as a coach, I have worked with parents, helping them to transition back into work after a life-changing event!

During coaching, we have the conversations that they are hesitant to have. About flexible work, relationships, changes and balance. The ones that, when they aren’t given the space to have, often lead to resignation letters.

Over our coaching sessions, they develop a plan, consider what their new success measures are, and how to open the conversation with their managers, so they can thrive in their roles. I support them in proactively developing their return-to-work induction, as well as support managers juggling their leadership responsibilities with their return.

With the average cost of replacing a staff member hitting £30, 614 (from Oxford Economics research), alongside the loss in productivity, knowledge, relationships and impact on staff morale, you really can’t afford NOT to offer coaching support for your team.

So, next time you are asked “Can we afford to support parents through coaching?”, remind yourself of the risks of not investing!

 

I’m Clara Wilcox, the affordable coach who helps parents enjoy their careers again. Return to work, career & redundancy coaching for individuals, freelancers, businesses and parents & carer groups. Book a call to talk about coaching or career wellbeing workshops.

 

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