¿Cómo navegar su primer embarazo como una líder en ascenso?

Debe conocer sus derechos e informarse para evitar que la discriminen debido a su embarazo.

Averigüe lo que necesita, delegue y permita que sus compañeros la apoyen.

El embarazo es una oportunidad para nutrir y liderar, necesita de herramientas que le ayuden a ser una gran madre y una líder exitosa sin que una anule a la otra.

How to Navigate Your First Pregnancy as a Rising Leader
Stephanie Lowry
c.2022 Harvard Business School Publishing Corp.

Stephanie Lowry is the vice president of enterprise sales at The Mentor Method.

From HBR.org

The corporate world isn’t always kind to moms. Pregnant women are often denied promotions and seen as liabilities or burdens, despite the fact that women make up 50% of the workforce, and <a href=»https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryanrobinson/2020/07/11/pregnancy-discrimination-in-the-workplace-affects-mother-and-baby-health/?sh=2e0d8ba2cac6″ rel=»nofollow»>up to 85% will become mothers during their careers</a>.

For me, becoming a mom while climbing the corporate ladder was something to take in stride. During my first pregnancy, I was still a rising leader at my organization. Suddenly, the sales culture I thrived in — late nights, hurried meals, the frenzied crunchtime sprints — became a liability.

It wasn’t easy, but through the process, I learned what it takes to navigate an exciting time in your career while taking care of yourself and your soon-to-be-born baby. Here are some of the tools that helped me manage.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.

Before anything else, educate yourself on what you’re legally entitled to. I recommend starting with the <a href=»https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/legal-rights-pregnant-workers-under-federal-law» rel=»nofollow»>U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission</a>. More specifically, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act forbids discrimination based on pregnancy when it comes to any aspect of employment. Your state or organization may also offer specific protections or policies to support you.

FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU NEED.

From the earliest days of morning sickness to the ebbing and flowing of hormone-driven emotional changes, most pregnant women will have some uncomfortable or unpleasant days. Your needs may also change over time and within each trimester. Before you announce your pregnancy to your manager or your team, conduct an inventory of the things that are necessary to maintain your well-being.

SET CLEAR EXPECTATIONS.

The sooner you establish your boundaries, the better you’ll be able to communicate them to your boss, your team and the larger organization. Remember, too, that as your body changes, so do those boundaries. By setting expectations up front, you will reduce the likelihood of pushback down the road.

DELEGATE LIKE A CHAMP.

Just because you’re a leader doesn’t mean you can’t ask for help. Allowing your teammates to support you when you need a break is a gift to everyone. They gain an opportunity to learn, and you gain an opportunity to rest. That said, your more junior team members may feel less comfortable offering to assist you during this time for fear that they are overstepping or being inappropriate. To get what you need, delegate.

BE A RESOURCE FOR OTHERS.

If there were policies or procedures in place that weren’t conducive to your pregnancy, speak up. Odds are, you’re not the first to undergo this hardship, and if you don’t say something, you likely won’t be the last. As a leader, you have the ability to effect change. Push for inclusive parental leave policies, ask for a mother’s room and set internal policies that will make life easier on challenging days.

Being a great mom and a successful leader are not mutually exclusive. Pregnancy is an opportunity to nurture and lead. By taking care of and advocating for yourself, you’ll be able to enjoy your pregnancy and your parental leave and return to a workplace better off than you left it.