Step one: love your job
It's important to follow a career path that you are passionate about. "I love what I do professionally so it doesn't actually seem like 'work'," says Rose Clements, human resources director for Microsoft Australia.
Step two: believe in yourself
Rose reveals:"I hold a very strong belief that it is possible to 'have it all' — a successful career, a 20-year marriage, two children, time to socialise, contribute to the community and a bit of 'me time' too."
Step three: reflect don't neglect
"I take the time to reflect on the components of my life so that I can identify those areas that have lost focus and can rebalance my life to regain this focus," says Diana Ryall, managing director of Xplore for Success. "I look at career, health and fitness, finances, family, other relationships, spirituality and myself."
Step four: be honest
It's crucial to share your feelings, hopes and dreams with your loved ones. "If people don't know what is important to me, how can they begin to support and respect who I am?" Rose asks.
Step five: speak up
"Be prepared to ask for what you need," Rose says. "Employers, spouses and friends are not mind readers and it is so much easier to work out a win-win scenario when mutual priorities and values are clear."
Step six: make changes
If your working life is stopping you from meeting the needs of you and your family, it is up to you to make alterations. "If you are not happy with your balance take steps to change how you live and work," Diana says.
Step seven: have a hero
"Seek out inspirational role models and use them to test assumptions and judgements about what is and is not possible," Rose says. Drawing on other people's opinions and experience can really help out when times get tough.
Step eight: give it time
Remember that a perfect balance between work and personal life may not happen right away. "You can have everything but maybe not instantly or simultaneously," Diana says.
Step nine: enjoy a giggle
Learning to laugh through tough situations is very important. "A sense of humour in your back pocket is a great asset in the world of work," Rose says.
Step 10: have patience
Neither being a mother or a professional unfold steadily or at the same time, so be patient. "Set long-term goals and expect a few detours and potholes along the way," Rose says.
Step 11: big yourself up
"Women are less likely to self-promote in terms of their successes, ambitions and capabilities," Diana says. "Self-promotion skills can be learned and need to be framed as authentic conversations not 'politics'. Women must learn to be comfortable talking about remuneration."
Step 12: see the positives
"When my daughter was in primary school and I asked her what she wanted to do when she grew up," Rose says. "She told me that she didn't care so long as she could work part-time so that she could be home when her kids came home from school. Ouch! As a teenager however, she is very proud to 'show off her mum' to friends. Both children have grown up to think for themselves, to be confident and self-motivated."
Step 13: rely on others
Make sure you have people you can fall back on in times of need. "I have created a support network of friends that my husband and I can call on for unconditional help from time to time," Rose says. "The upside has been the making of some fabulous friends through the intimacy that raising children and juggling busy lives together brings about."
Step 14: get employer support
"All organisations need to have good procedures to support transparent promotions, good performance assessments and flexible working," Diana says. There are plenty of companies across Australia that want to sustain the working woman. However, as, Diana says "the underlying culture needs to support this and be 'demonstrated' by senior leaders".
Step 15: be kind
It's too easy to punish yourself for 'choosing' to follow a career as well as being a mum. "Be kind to yourself — everyone has challenges. Make decisions then leave guilt behind!" Diana suggests.
Step 16: hope for the future
"I have not experienced any discrimination in the workplace," Rose says. "Rather, I have found that schools tend to be the least sensitive to working mums and treat them as the 'minority'. I do hope in time our schools recognise the messages they send to their students about what is 'normal'."
Step 17: make a difference
Diana believes if everyone does their bit, the situation for working women in Australia will change. She is a supporter of "five-year targets" for 20 percent women on boards and for audits for pay equality. "Very little has changed in the last 10 years. We need to do something different," Diana says.
A few quick facts
- The percentage of companies offering maternity leave has risen by 15 percent since 2003.
- Research shows that employees experience considerable stress associated with being unable to balance work and family life.
- Women who don't return from maternity leave cause massive expenses for companies. NRMA estimates that it costs $48,000 to replace a manager!
- Only one in 10 enterprise agreements contain family-friendly measures such as paid personal leave.
What is International Women's Day?
International Women's Day (March 8, 2010) is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future.
Go to the official International Women's Day website for more info.
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