Recognising The Need Of And For Help

Day4 #internationalwomensday - Thursday 9 March -Meet Lisa Maguire, Key Account Manager, Harness Energy

Lisa, born and raised in Australia in a pretty traditional family unit sets the tone for today’s article with her very personal insights around the challenges for professional women in contemporary Australia who have access to so many professional and family opportunities - but “doing it all” as a professional working - single - parent can present notable difficulties.

Without a clear career direction after school but keen to be financially self-sufficient as quickly as possible, Lisa started working in retail.? She grew a sales career quickly becoming an assistant retail manager at 19. Lisa also grew up in loving family with dedicated full-time mother. Even now they regularly catch-up with the families of her three siblings. Lisa has two young boys who she co-parents with her now ex-husband and has also built herself an increasingly senior career in sales and account management.?

When Lisa was married and started her family she wanted to prove to herself - and the world - she could do it all… afterall she had seen the amazing job her stay-at-home mother did. Unfortunately this is not what happened. It did not take long juggling full time work, parenting and partner for it became clear she could not ‘do it all’. Her world came crashing down around her and she eventually took time off to manage a divorce, re-gain her health and create a new normal for her children. With the benefit of hindsight, Lisa realises now that she really needed more help and support during this tumultuous time. Now, her mother - a shining example of support - has actively encouraged Lisa to continue her professional career while she helps alleviate some of the domestic stress. Lisa has also learnt to further prioritise and even out-source some domestics while opening herself up to receiving more help from her family, close network of friends and Harness.?

Learning to recognise when you need help is not easy and neither is recognising when or how to offer help. Lisa thinks that women can be their own worst enemies as they just ‘keep on going’. International Women’s Day for Lisa is about ensuring that the message of ‘asking for and being open to receiving support’ is a sign of strength and that she is eternally grateful for the support from work and family that is enabling her to better manage a sometimes difficult balancing act.? Lisa reminds us that there is still scope for workplaces to do more holisticallyl - including for men - by offering authentic support and flexibility that is culturally inculcated across the workplace for all genders to feel able to be the leading examples for the next generation while also contributing as a professional person.