What Working Moms Really Want

If you want something done, ask a working mom. Indeed!

Today is Mother's Day, which means it is a day for moms to settle in for a moment and be celebrated. Trust me when I say that no massage or bouquet of flowers will solve a working mom's stress, but here are a few things companies can do if they really want to deliver for working moms and promote more women into the c-suite:

• Stop meeting madness:?Nothing is more annoying to a working mom than sitting in a 5 pm meeting listening to people drone on about their lofty ideas and visions. Operate, operate, operate. Create a culture that is a DO culture and be rigorous about giving employees their time, both to deliver for the company and deliver for their family.
• Carve out budgets for education and coaching: I am seeing some people from underrepresented backgrounds promoted into positions they are not ready for. I deeply believe in diversity and bringing more women and more diverse people into the c-suite, but for a c-suite executive to be exceptional, they need to have experience. If you are working hard to diversify your leadership team, consider carving out budgets for leadership training programs and private executive coaching, which will help support the success of your executive hire.
• Reshape maternity leave:?While companies implement long maternity and paternity leaves (some up to six months!), most moms I know would prefer to go back earlier but go back more gradually. A mom knows how to balance, and a hybrid re-entry into the workforce, 2-3 days on and 2-3 days off, makes the transition easier for parents and doesn't leave such a big gap for the company when the executive is out for multiple months.
• Listen:?I've had several c-suite female leaders interview men or be interviewed by men and say they were "mansplained" to. Leadership 101 is to listen. This is for both men and women. It still fascinates me how often we all like to pound our chests. With high-demand schedules, people need the space to have their voice and ideas heard.
• Pay up:?Great talent doesn't come cheap, and when I see the data on pay equality, it makes my stomach churn. Recognize how important money is to create a quality family life and ensure your executives are paid equally. Retaining your top talent is as important, or maybe even more important, than hiring new. Pay for great talent and ensure it is equal across all genders and backgrounds within your organization.

Here's to Mom! Somehow, us ladies figure out how to get it all done, and the?data proves that hiring more women in leadership roles increases the bottom line and betters the work culture.?On a day like today, let's think about what more we can give to our working moms that will make a greater impact on her success, ultimately driving more success for the company at large.

#workingmoms #shinetalent #worklifebalance #womenleaders