Leaving time for parents; the art of getting out of the door!

It comes up time and time again. In coaching sessions, in a recent workshop, in conversations over coffee. How to leave work on time? When the nursery pick up time is absolute and inflexible, there is no wiggle room to work for ten more minutes. Factor in a convoluted commute and it gets even more complicated.
These are my top tips; whilst I am not going to be able to change the mind-set of some grouchy colleagues, I hope you can return to work armed with a tool-kit and a strong mind-set that will make it all a little easier.

1. Don’t Apologise
I regularly use the term “unapologetically part-time”. If you start any communication or discussion with “Sorry I can’t” or “Unfortunately I don’t work those days” then you are indicating that your work pattern is something to be sorry for. Your hours are your hours; for those that are part-time your pay has been pro-rated to take this into consideration. This also counts for those many, many parents working full-time but HAVE to leave at 5:30 on the dot! Start from a position of strength.

2. Outcome not Presence
Make sure you demonstrate what you are achieving whilst you are there. Have clear measurements in place with your Manager so you can show your achievements; prove to yourself (and others if needed) that you are making a real impact in the time you are at work. If you are in a position of leadership, make sure you influence the culture of your team or organisation by rewarding what people do not how long they spend in the office.

3. Be Proactive
Make it explicit in your communications about when you are available. In my previous role, I would always include my availability in my email out of office responder and in the signature of my email. Even now, since launching The Balance Collective, my out of office clearly states I don’t work on a Friday. This has been received positively; so much so, that many people have commented they have changed their own email sign off to protect their personal time and set expectations around availability!

4. Time for Technology
If you have access to a shared diary, block out your time when you are not in the office. This will not only help you manage your time during the day, but show colleagues when you are available. Leaving the office on time is a pre-booked appointment! A common issue mentioned to me is being invited to meetings that creep into the end of someone’s day. Simply, tell the person what availability you have when you are invited. For example, “I am only available for 30 minutes, will that be enough?”

5. Own Your Time
On rare occasions, should work load need it or I wanted to, I would log in to my remote accessed emails or work later in the evening once the children were in bed. This was on my terms, but meant that I could still leave on time and spend dinner time and bedtime with the girls. If it is good enough for Sheryl, it is good enough for me!

6. Viewpoint
Take a moment to consider how you view colleagues that work part-time or leave on time? Where do your concerns about leaving on time really lie?
• Is it hard to go due to work load? Maybe it is time to review your productivity or have a conversation with your manager about resource?
• Is it comments from colleagues? Do their opinions really matter to you?
• Is it none of the above and it (common) parental guilt (something many of us experience!)? It is a time to review how you are managing your own expectations and be less hard on yourself?
I am hoping these six tips will help you make those steps to leave on time, guilt free. Would love to hear about any role models you have that balance leaving work on time!

Clara Wilcox is a return to work and career coach for parents offering 1-2-1 coaching, workshops and flexible working consultancy. See more on www.thebalancecollective.co.uk and join the conversation www.facebook.com/flexibleworkingforall